How long you can stay outside in the snow depends on many factors including the outside temperature, as well as the windchill. If you are sick, elderly or in poor health it is best to not go outside in the snow at all, unless it is just to simply walk to the car.

The best tips is to not spend too much time outside. If you want to sled or shovel perhaps an hour is sufficient as long as you dress proper. be sure to wear a warm coat, warm mittens, boots and a snowsuit or leggings. Cover your face well. They make face masks that just leave room for you to see and breath. the rest of your face is covered. If you feel cold, go inside. Do not wait until you feel numb, that can lead to an emergency situation.

Use your best judgment, and if you get cold or wet, go in immediately.

When I was young, I lived in the midwest. It got cold there, too! I would go out in the morning, after a nice, hot breakfast with my mittens, scarf, hat, winter coat, and rubber boots. I stayed outside, making snowmen and snow angels, rolling around with the dogs, and brothers, and sledding down the hill. We were called in for lunch, and cocoa periodically through the day, but we then, after lunch, went back outside to do it all over again.

If you are shoveling snow (one of my favorite pass times) then you are warm. The very action of shoveling will keep your circulation flowing, which will help you stay warm enough to endure a long period outside. If you start to feel your toes or fingers get cold, then wiggle your toes, rub your fingers together, and get out of the weather.

Precautions depend on your age, your level of activity outside in the snow, your regular levels of activity, and how much clothing you put on. I was skilled at wearing pantyhose, long johns, jeans, and coveralls, a tank top, button up shirt, a sweater and a jacket, gloves under mittens, a scarf and a hat. LOL. I was prepared for any wind chill that may want to sneak up on me when sledding in the great outdoors, or shoveling my neighborhood driveways. You see, layers are always the way to dress when playing or working outside in the snowy regions of any country.

You cannot catch a cold or flu by being outside in the cold. The cold weather does not give you any sickness, no matter how wet you get. Colds and the flu are bred from viruses, not from cold weather, so you don't have to worry about that. Your nose may run a little bit but that is just your body's way of protecting the internal surfaces of your nose from the cold. It's like ppinsulation]].

I think I've probably told you twice how to dress for outdoor activity in the snow. Just be sure your fingers and toes stay warm, wear a hat to keep the heat in, dress in layers, and you'll be just hunky dory! Personally I cannot imagine a moment of time when I would not want to be outside playing in the snow, but then, I've migrated to south Texas where it hardly ever snows!