Hot weather means playing outside in the sprinkler, climbing trees and soaking up the sunshine for many kids, but too much time in the sun can be a dangerous thing in hot and humid weather. Kids can overheat easily on steamy summer days, but knowing what signs to look for and how to protect your child can minimize his risk for heat-related illness like sunstroke.
The Facts
Sunstroke, officially known as heat stroke, is the most extreme heat illness, which is a condition that happens when the body’s natural cooling system breaks down. Kids, especially those who are 5 years old or younger, are especially susceptible to heat illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mild heat illnesses, like heat cramps -- pain in the legs, arms or abdominal area caused by low salt levels in the body -- and heat exhaustion, which is typically caused by dehydration, are warning signs that the heat is too much for your child. Untreated, heat illnesses can progress to heat stroke, a serious condition that can cause brain damage, organ failure and -- in extreme cases -- death.
Prevention
The best way to deal with sunstroke is to prevent it from happening. Keep your child well-hydrated in hot, humid weather. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends giving your child two to four 16-ounce glasses of water each hour, whether he says he’s thirsty or not. In extreme heat, add a sports drink once an hour to replace the salt and minerals your child is sweating out. Send your child outside in light, loose-fitting clothes and a broad-brimmed hat, and slather him up with sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you head into the sunshine. If you can, make your child’s outdoor time early in the morning or late in the evening, when the heat is likely to be at its lowest points, and encourage him to take breaks to cool off inside or in the shade. Avoid leaving your child alone in the car in hot weather. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even if you crack the car window, the temperature inside your car can rise 20 degrees in just 10 minutes, putting your child at risk for heat stroke.
Symptoms
Heat illnesses have symptoms that are pretty easy to spot, so keeping a close eye on your child during hot weather can help prevent problems. Take heed if your child complains of a headache or queasy stomach -- both of these are early symptoms of heat illnesses -- along with dizziness, heavy sweating, confusion or a rapid heartbeat. Your child’s bathroom visits can also clue you in to his heat health: Dark yellow urine is a sign of dehydration, explains the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Treatment
If your child has flushed, hot skin but isn’t sweating, runs a temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, is weak, dizzy, sluggish or confused, or if she is not responsive or loses consciousness, call 911 immediately. While you’re waiting for paramedics to arrive, get your child inside or into the shade and focus on cooling her down. Loosen her clothes and sponge her off with cool water, but don’t give her anything to drink, warns Kids Health, an online parenting and health information resource maintained by the Nemours Foundation. If your child has clammy skin, is irritated and tired, or experiences nausea, she probably has heat exhaustion rather than heat stroke. Go ahead and call your health care provider, but in the meantime, get her into a cool place and encourage her to eat and drink. Skip the fever-reducing medicines, though, recommends Doernbecher Children’s Hospital -- they won’t work for heat-induced fevers.
