How to Prevent Heat Stroke: Common Sense Guidelines
Published on in Health Tip of the Week
Published on in Health Tip of the Week
When summer heat grows intense, parents need to be mindful of their children’s health. But pediatricians at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) say there’s no reason to stay indoors all day.
“Kids need outdoor time all year round,” Dr. David Pollack explains. “The activity, the sunlight, the fresh air, and the exposure to nature are all important for their health. And older kids benefit from detaching from computers and electronic devices. On the hottest summer days, parents simply need to observe some common-sense guidelines and pay close attention to how their kids are feeling.”
Watch for these signs of overheating and heat-related illness:
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke sound scary, and they are. But your child is unlikely to experience them if you follow simple precautions.
Dr. Pollack offers these precautions and suggestions to stay safe and comfortable on hot days and prevent overheating.
Babies and young children are at greater risk of overheating because they sweat less, which limits their ability to cool down in the heat.
When your children are old enough to understand and communicate how they’re feeling, remind them to pay attention to their bodies in the heat, and to tell an adult if they don’t feel well or need to take a break. Parents and caregivers can follow these guidelines to help keep everyone in the family cool and healthy on those steamy summer days.
Many cities and communities have "cooling centers," which may be libraries or community centers with AC that residents can utilize if they don't have AC in their homes. For example, Philadelphia has a list of local cooling centers.
All the advice above still applies but there are a few extra things to keep in mind for young athletes exercising during summer months. To stay cool while playing sports in the summer and early fall, Dr. Naomi Brown, a pediatric sports medicine specialist at CHOP, offers the following tips:
Contributed by: David M. Pollack, MD, Katie K. Lockwood, MD, MEd, Naomi Brown, MD, FAAP, CAQSM
Categories: Health Tip of the Week