Summer Day Fun #3

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Summer can be the setting for disaster from water and sun if you do not take precautions.  I will highlight a different potential summer danger once a week during June.

Sometimes we like to play at the park and some kids will soon start sports practice for school, but beware of exercise in hot weather.

Danger #3

Exercise-Related Heat Illness (ERHI):

EHRI occurs when the weather is very hot or very humid and the child or teen is doing exercise or playing sports. When you exercise, your muscles produce more heat, so even in a cool environment, you will start to feel warmer with exercise.  Sweating helps cool the body down, but if you don’t sweat appropriately or aren’t replacing the fluids lost in sweat, your body will be unable to get rid of the excess heat, resulting in ERHI.  Children tend to be at a greater risk for developing EHRI.

Here are some of the signs of EHRI and the progression that can happen if precautions are not implemented:

Type of EHRI

Symptoms

Treatment

Heat cramps
  • Painful muscle contractions, usually in the legs.
  • Normal body temperature
  • Sweating is normal
  •  Stop exercising & stretch affected muscle
  • Drink Gatorade or another salt-replacement fluid

Heat Exhaustion
  • Body temperature increases up to 104° F
  • Child feels tired; experiences nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting.
  • Skin is flushes, but moist
  • Stop exercising
  • Move to shaded, cool area
  • Drink Gatorade or other electrolyte replacement fluid
  • If child unable to drink—take to nearest ER

Heat Stroke
  • Body temperature is greater than 104° F
  • Child is combative & confused, experiencing seizures or is unresponsive after fainting
  • Skin is flushed, hot and dry—no sweat
  •  Call 911—this is life threatening
  • Cool the child’s body down immediately in any way possible (air conditioned room, cool cloths, ice packs, etc)

 

 

Tips to prevent EHRI:

  • Schedule activities at cooler parts of the day (early morning or late afternoon)
  • Consider cancelling or postponing events if the day is extremely hot or extremely humid
  • Kids/teens should gradually adjust to exercising by increasing activities slowly over the first 2 weeks of practice
  • Dress appropriately for the weather—do not use excess clothing or equipment
  • Schedule breaks every 10-15 minutes so children can drink liquids to stay hydrated—4-8 ounces should be drunk at each break
  • Cold water and sports drinks should be available before, during and after every activity

 

 

 

Summer Day Fun #2

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Summer Day Fun

The days are getting hotter and the kids are out of school.  You need a good way to keep everyone cool. What can you do but head to the pool?

Days at the pool or lake or ocean are often the way we spend our summers and children adore the water and the sunny days. However, summer can also be the setting for disaster from water and sun if you do not take precautions.  I will highlight a different potential summer danger once a week during June.

Danger #2

Drowning:

  • Infants (under 1 year):  Children of this age are most at risk for drowning in bathtubs or large buckets.
    • Never leave your child alone near any water (esp. bathtubs), even for a few seconds
    • Close toilet lids and empty all large buckets
    • Make sure bathroom locks from outside only
    • Toddlers and preschoolers (1-5 years): Swimming Pools are #1 drowning risk for pre-school age children
      • Watch your child at all times around water
      • If he/she is in swimming pool, an adult needs to be in the pool with him/her
      • Swimming lessons do not mean your child can swim well enough to be alone
      • Keep toys away from the pool so children are not tempted to be near water
      • Put a fence with a gate around your home pool  (gate should open away from pool)
    • School-Age Children (5-12 years):
      • Children still need to be watched by an adult at all times
      • Swimming lessons are helpful
      • No diving unless water is very deep and parent/teacher is watching
      • Floaties give false sense of security so should not be used to swim in a deep pool (life vests are better)
      • No running near pools
      • At pool parties, make sure children know not to play rough in the water (no pushing, dunking, etc.)
    • Teenagers (over 12 years):
      • Make sure teen knows not to dive in shallow areas, in above ground pools or through inner tubes
      • No swimming while drinking alcohol (no alcohol at this age anyway)
      • No  horsing around (dunking, pushing, throwing) with others in or near pool
      • Take diving/swimming classes
      • Take CPR/water safety classes

Always keep a working phone nearby with 911 on speed dial in case of problems

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Day Fun

/0 Comments/in /by

Summer Day Fun

The days are getting hotter and the kids are out of school.

You need a good way to keep everyone cool.

What can you do but head to the pool?

Days at the pool or lake or ocean are often the way we spend our summers and children adore the water and the sunny days. However, summer can also be the setting for disaster from water and sun if you do not take precautions.  I will highlight a different potential summer danger once a week during June.

Danger #1:

Sun burns—the skin of babies and young children is much more delicate than that of an adult and needs to be protected.  A few bad sunburns at a young age can increase the risk for skin cancer later in life.  Help protect your children when out at the pool, or even when at the park or in the backyard if planning to be out for a long time. To avoid skin damage in your child, follow these simple rules

  • A baby less than 6 months should not be in direct sunlight.
    • Keep the baby in a shaded area such as under an umbrella, canopy or tree.
    • Dress your baby in lightweight clothing that will cover his/her body; meaning pants, long-sleeved shirts and hats that cover the ears. Cotton clothes are usually the best.
    • Hats should give some protection to your baby’s eyes, but you may also want to use child-sized sunglasses with UV protection
    • For older babies and toddlers, you may use sunscreen
      • Chose a sunscreen made for children
      • Chose a sunscreen that says “Broad-spectrum”, meaning it protects against UVB and UVA rays
      • Sunscreen greater than SPF 20 is adequate
      • Try the sunscreen on a small area of body first to make sure no allergies to cream exist
      • Apply all over, avoiding eyelids and palms of hands. Do not forget earlobes, backs of knees and bottoms of feet
      • Reapply frequently, especially if child is in and out of the water.