|
Protecting
children from heat-related
injuries important as the mercury rises!
News
Release
HOUSTON, Texas Children's Hospital -- As the weather
heats up, it’s more important for kids and adolescents
to stay cool while playing outdoors.
“Seldom
does a child complain about the heat, like an adult
does,” said Dr. Joan Shook, chief of emergency medicine
at Texas Children’s Hospital and associate professor
of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “But
it’s important to know that children are more susceptible
to heat stress than adults because they absorb more
heat on a hot day.”
There
are three types of heat-related injuries: heat cramps,
heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat
cramps are the mildest of these injuries and are characterized
by severe muscle pain and spasms. While heat cramps
are seldom serious, they should not be taken lightly.
Heat cramps are an early warning sign that the body
is having difficulty adjusting to the heat.
Heat
exhaustion is a more serious form of heat stress.
It occurs as a result of body fluids being lost through
heavy sweating during exercise or other strenuous
activity. Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion are
extreme sweating, dry mouth, fatigue and weakness,
headache, nausea and dizziness.
“Heat
stroke is the most severe of the three types of heat-related
injuries and is considered a medical emergency,” Shook
said. “Signs that a child has experienced heat stroke
include a very high temperature (104 degrees or higher);
hot, dry, red skin; no sweating; confusion, deep breathing
and possibly a loss of consciousness.”
Shook
said that heat-related injuries can be avoided by
taking the proper precautions during the hot, summer
months. All heat-related injuries are caused by a
lack of hydration, so the key to prevention is replenishing
the body with plenty of fluids, preferably water.
Children should take 30-40 minute breaks from the
heat during the day to avoid heat-related injuries.
Shook
offers the following advice to avoid heat stress in
children:
Dress
children in light, loose-fitting clothes, such as
cotton, so sweat can evaporate.
Avoid giving children drinks with caffeine and sugar.
These beverages actually cause the body to loose more
fluids.
Make sure children are well-hydrated before starting
prolonged physical activity. Children should drink
liquids periodically during activities, even if they
don’t feel thirsty.
Dr.
Joan Shook is chief of emergency medicine at Texas
Children's Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics
at Baylor College of Medicine. For more information
on Texas Children's Emergency Center, visit www.texaschildrenshospital.org.
|
