How to Keep Your Kids Safe During the Heat
A week ago, I felt a little smug, snuggle up in my corner of the Pacific Northwest while the rest of you hissed. But now the heat has come to me, and I’m hiding next to the air conditioner vent, hoping my kids don’t come back from camp with sunburn and prickly heat. I believe it’s time for all of us to take a few minutes to make sure we know how to keep our children safe in extreme heat, because they are more susceptible to it than we are.
Why you need to be especially careful with children in extreme heat
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists infants and children as populations that are “disproportionately affected by extreme heat “, along with the elderly and pregnant people. The reason children are more susceptible to heat than adults is because, according to the Environmental Protection Agency , children have “a lower ratio of body weight to surface area than adults, making them more vulnerable to heat-related heat of disease and mortality.
Children also play outside more than adults and don’t necessarily know their limits like we lazy adults do. If you’ve ever had a child who peed in his pants because he couldn’t stop playing, logic dictates that he won’t stop drinking water either, which will lead to dehydration.
Know the signs of dehydration
It sounds intimidating, and it may be, but being aware of the signs of dehydration can help you keep your child safe. These signs:
- Less interest in physical activity
- Irritability
- Dry mouth or chapped lips
- No tears when crying
- dark urine
Water is always a good option for dehydration, but for severe dehydration, while the CDC recommends avoiding sugary drinks, a sports drink can help your child replace salt or minerals. You can also opt for something like Pedialyte or similar, especially if they prefer it to plain water.
Get ready for the heat
My son is old enough to know it’s called “sunscreen” but still insists on calling it “sunshine” because he hates it so much. However, reapply and reapply to prevent burns and dehydration ( here’s how often , and here’s a few tricks on how to lubricate them without a fight ). Dress your child in loose, light-colored clothing made from breathable fabrics such as cotton. They may or may not want a hat to protect their face from the sun. Note that hats trap heat and are not recommended by the EPA for infants to wear except to prevent sunburn.
Plan outdoor activities according to the weather. Some people tolerate sun exposure better than others. My kids and I are fading pretty quickly and we need to schedule breaks indoors, preferably with fans and air conditioning. In the afternoon after camp we have movie screenings during the heat wave and I buy special boats before the hot weather when I know we don’t want to play outside much.
In children’s camps and kindergartens, my children sometimes go outside first thing in the morning, and then arrange water games that make their hair wet. The kids then go inside with their hair wet, which helps keep them cool when temperatures get hotter at the end of the day. They are often repeated in the afternoon. The game of getting wet and standing in front of a fan helps kids forget they are wet, warm and uncomfortable.
Watch out for heat-induced illnesses
There are several heat-related illnesses that your children may be susceptible to if they spend time in the sun. Obviously do your best to prevent sunburn, but also watch out for prickly heat , which looks like red, prickly, raised skin, often under sweaty clothing. The same symptoms could be an allergy, or even a sun allergy in particular, so make sure you rule out allergic reactions, especially if you’re using a new sunscreen for your child.
It is important to distinguish between heat stroke and heat exhaustion . A full list of symptoms of heat-related illnesses can be found in this CDC chart , but children with heat stroke and heat exhaustion may have the following similar symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Fainting/loss of consciousness
- Rapid pulse
- Headache
- Nausea
The main way to tell the difference is that people with heat exhaustion sweat profusely, while people with heat stroke have dry, hot, or damp skin and fever. If you suspect heatstroke, you should call 911. With heat exhaustion, you need to seek medical attention if your child is sick, gets worse, or does not get better after resting in a cool place for an hour.
For both suspected heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
- Move the child to a shady, cool place or indoors.
- Try lowering your body temperature with cool clothes or a bath.
However, if you suspect heat stroke, don’t give your child anything to drink. Call 911 and wait for further instructions.
Cars
I must remind you that leaving a child in a hot car at any time can be fatal . Cars can become very hot inside even when it is warm enough outside. Never leave your child alone in the car and come up with ways to help you remember to always check the back seat, especially when you’re not doing your normal business and you might forget that he’s with you.