Heat-Related Illnesses In Children

Spending long periods in hot, humid weather without enough water or opportunities to cool down can lead to heat-related illnesses in children. They are at greater risk because children and adolescents generate more body heat and do not cool themselves as efficiently as adults, making it more difficult for them to adapt to high temperatures. They don’t sweat efficiently, and they ignore thirst signs when playing.

 

Heat exhaustion is the most common heat-related illness in children and can cause the following symptoms:

If a child develops these symptoms, move them to a shaded or air-conditioned area, remove excess clothing, encourage them to sip fluids (electrolyte-containing) slowly, and apply cool, wet cloths to the skin.

 

If left untreated, heat exhaustion can turn into heat stroke, a life-threatening emergency that requires treatment immediately. Signs of heat stroke in children include:

• Hot, dry skin
• Little or no sweating
• Confusion or disorientation
• Seizures
• Severe headache
• Rapid breathing and heart rate
• Fainting or loss of consciousness
• Fatigue or weakness
• Body temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) or higher

With heat stroke, a child’s skin may appear flushed, red, hot and dry. If you suspect heat stroke, call 911 or seek emergency care immediately.

 

The best way to prevent heat-related illnesses is to take precautions before children head outdoors. Encourage them to drink water or sports drinks frequently throughout the day, even when they do not feel thirsty. Schedule outdoor play and sports during cooler morning or evening hours whenever possible and make sure children take regular breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas, or under a covered area like an umbrella. Dress them in lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing and apply sunscreen to protect their skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. Never leave a child alone in a parked vehicle, as temperatures inside can rise rapidly and become dangerous within minutes.

 

If your children are attending summer camps, talk with them about the dangers of heat-related illnesses. Because you can’t always be there to monitor them, children should know the warning signs and tell an adult right away if they start to feel unwell in the heat.