Kids and Heat

7-year-old Sunshine likes
to be outside.

“Run around, stuff like that,” she says.

But a couple of weeks ago, with temperatures in the 90’s… she
hit a wall…

“She was like going, going, going, bam,” says her
father, Jeff Flamer.

“I started heating up and I didn’t feel… it,” adds
Sunshine.

“She wouldn’t eat, but she would drink and we gave
her some ice cubes,” explains Jeff, “And she was very
hot to the touch. I mean she was burning up to the touch.”

Her temperature was 104… Sunshine didn’t know it
but she was close to having a heat stroke.

“Kids are focused on what they’re doing, they’re
having a good time. May not recognize the warning signs of their
own body,” says Seema Csukas, Medical Director, Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta.

And parents may not recognize the warning signs either.

Parents may assume that if they feel

O-k, their kids are probably fine too.

Temperatures across the nation are reaching record highs, and
there are daily reports of people passing out – and even dying – from
the heat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), these extreme temperatures can pose an especially dangerous
threat to young children. Every year, approximately 318 Americans die
of heat-related illnesses, which occur when the body’s temperature
control system is overloaded. The body normally cools itself by sweating,
but under some conditions sweating just isn’t enough. In such
cases, the person’s body temperature rises rapidly, and these
very high temperatures may damage the brain and/or other vital organs.

The experts at Spencer Hospital of Indiana say that while anyone
can experience heat-related illnesses, the risk is higher for infants
and small children for the following reasons:

• The surface area of a baby or small child’s body relative
  to his/her weight is very high. This allows for greater loss of fluid
  by evaporation in a shorter period of time.
• Small children are unable to sweat adequately in order to cool
  the body. Thus, in very hot weather, they are subject to greater
  changes in body temperature based on the existing temperature.
• The body composition of babies and toddlers is higher in water
  by weight. This can lead to more dramatic changes in the volume of
  circulating blood – as the result of water loss – and
  a consequent drop in blood pressure.
• Children take longer to adapt
  to hot conditions.

According to the Florida Department of
Health, children experience four main types of heat-related illnesses:

• Heat rash (prickly heat) – This painful condition most
  commonly appears in the skin folds. Prickly heat is not just uncomfortable;
  it is a sign that the body is not reacting well to heat stress
  and puts your child at greater risk for heat stroke. If your child
  has a heat rash, treat it with a cool bath, thorough drying and
  application of talcum powder.
• Heat cramps – These painful muscle spasms may occur in
  the calf, abdomen and/or thigh. They are caused by a loss of water
  and electrolytes, many times due to overexertion. If your child
  suffers heat cramps, have him/her rest in the shade, increase his/her
  fluid intake, massage the area cramping, and apply ice to the area
  to help break the muscle cramp.
• Heat exhaustion – This illness occurs from dehydration.
  It causes extreme weakness, nausea or headaches. If your child
  has heat exhaustion, he/she may also vomit or faint, have skin
  that is moist and cool, and have a body temperature that is normal
  or only a little high. Placing your child in a cool place, applying
  cool compresses and giving him/her proper fluids is the best treatment
  for heat exhaustion.
• Heat stroke – This illness is very serious and, if not
  treated at once, can lead to death. In fact, the CDC reported that
  of the 78 children who died in accidents linked to parked cars
  between the summers of 2000 and 2001, more than a third died from
  heat exposure. A child with heat stroke will have a fever of 105
  degrees Fahrenheit or higher, have skin that may be dry and red,
  usually with no sweat, experience shivering and convulsions, and
  be confused or irritable. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, so
  call 911 immediately if you observe these symptoms in your child.
  Then, cool the body at once using a cold bath or wet towels (bathe
  with ice water if possible). Keep your child in a cool area and
  use a fan until emergency help arrives.

The Maryland Department of the Environment says that most heat-related
illnesses can be prevented. Follow these useful tips to help keep
your family and home cool:

• Dress your child in loose-fitting clothes that let perspiration
  evaporate freely. Light colors reflect heat away from your body.
• Wash your child’s hands and face often with cool water.
  Have your child bathe, shower or swim in cool water. (A hot shower
  will heat up your house as well as your child’s body.)
• Fix cool meals that do not need to be heated on the stove.
• Do not use appliances or lights unless they are necessary.
• Use fans to improve air circulation.
• Use shades and blinds to keep out direct sunlight.
• Ensure that your child drinks water and other fluids. As your
  child perspires to cool his/her body, he/she will need to replace
  fluids that have been lost. Dehydration can develop quite suddenly,
  particularly during hard work or exercise.
• Allow your child to get enough rest, which can reduce the amount
  of heat that his/her body produces. If your child engages in sports
  or other physical activities, be sure that he/she takes a break
  in a cool area from time to time.
• Protect your child from direct
  sunlight. Allow your child to swim, play sports, or do other
  things that he/she enjoys – just make
  sure your child uses a good sun screen and wears a hat and other protective
  clothing appropriate for the activity. Direct sun exposure increases
  your child’s risk for heat stress, heat stroke and skin cancer.