Summer is still here and even a few days of lower temperatures there are many hot days to come.
Extreme heat can cause children to become sick in several ways. Make sure to protect your child from the heat as much as possible, watch for symptoms, and call your doctor if you see any develop. Here are a few tips from the AAP
Preventing Effects of Extreme Heat:
- Plan to have a cool, air-conditioned space for your child. If your home does not have air-conditioning, find a nearby building that does. Libraries can be a great place for a cool retreat from the heat.
- Make sure your child stays hydrated. Encourage her to drink water regularly, even before she asks for it.
- Plan for more time to rest than usual; heat can often make children feel tired.
- When your child is feeling hot, give him a cool bath or water mist to cool down.
- Don’t forget about the effects of sun exposure.
- Never leave children in a car or other closed motor vehicle, especially when temperatures are high. The temperature inside the car can become much higher than the outside temperature, and can rise to temperatures that cause death.
Potential Health Effects:
Extreme heat can make children sick in many ways, including:
- Dehydration
- Heat exhaustion
- Heat cramps
- Heat stroke
When to Call Your Child’s Doctor:
Call your child’s doctor immediately if he or she develops any of the following symptoms. Your child’s doctor can advise you on the next best course of action and whether an immediate evaluation is needed.- Faintness
- Extreme tiredness
- Headache
- Fever
- Intense thirst
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Breathing faster or deeper than normal
- Skin numbness or tingling
- Muscle aches
- Muscle spasms
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