Heat Exhaustion In Children: Prevention
The weather sure is frigid lately! Even though summer is long behind us and winter feels like it’s here to stay, keeping your child’s safety as it pertains to heat exhaustion is important. As parents, we wish we could be there for our children at every moment of the day – but we cannot. With school being in full swing, we cannot help but think about times like recess and gym class.
Did you know that children’s body temperatures can increase up to five times faster than that of adults? Even a few minutes outside during recess, working up a sweat, can lead to heat exhaustion in children.
As a parent, you worry about your child all of the time. When they are at school, we like to think that our children are safe and secure – and surely they are – but a little bit of safety education never hurt anyone. This is why when it comes to heat exhaustion and heat stroke; we recommend parents talk to their children about the symptoms and what to do if they feel overheated during playtime.
The first thing to do is talk to your children about some of the common symptoms that may come with heat exhaustion:
- Heat cramps – These can be brief but feel severe. Any cramping in the muscles of the legs, arms or abdomen that may occur after exercise in the heat are a sign to slow down and drink some water right away.
- Dehydration
- Fatigue
- Clammy skin
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rapid breathing
Although many of these symptoms may not be serious, it is important to be aware of them in heat in order to react soon enough. Remind your child that if he starts to feel any pain after being outdoors to move inside and drink something and remove any excess layers of clothing. The most important thing to do is always stay hydrated. Children are resilient, but heat exhaustion can be sudden and its best for them to be understanding of what it means.
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