Keeping Kids Safe and Cool in the Summer Heat

It’s heating up again, so be sure to find shade and stay hydrated. People with chronic health conditions, the elderly, and children can be especially sensitive to extreme temperatures, and should take extra measures to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

“Make sure to drink enough water and rest,” said Fang Lan, MD, a primary care physician at Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center. “Avoid high-energy activities and working outdoors during midday heat. The body’s normal response to heat can be adversely affected by strenuous activity, age, obesity and other chronic health conditions.”

In addition, some prescription medicines can impair the body's ability to control its temperature. Warning signs of heat stroke include an extremely high body temperature above 103°F, unconsciousness, dizziness, nausea, confusion, a throbbing headache, skin that is red and hot, and a rapid, strong pulse. Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, nausea and vomiting, paleness, fatigue and dizziness.

Below are a few tips to stay safe in the heat:

• Drink plenty of water and avoiding alcohol and caffeinated beverages

• Stay indoors and minimize physical activity

• Provide plenty of shade and fresh drinking water for people and pets

• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing

• Apply adequate sunscreen of at least SPF 30 and reapply every two hours

• Never leave a child or pet alone in a parked car

• Visit a cooling center or other air-conditioned locations

Shannon Dorton, MD, a primary care physician at Kaiser Permanente Antioch Medical Center says many of her patients don’t drink enough water during the day.

“We recommend drinking at least eight glasses of water a day for adequate hydration,” she said. “I tend to advise five to six, 16-ounce water bottles per day.”

In addition to staying hydrated, Dorton stressed the importance of wearing sunscreen every day to prevent skin cancer.

“Sunscreen even should be applied when people are indoors, as UV rays can penetrate through the window,” she said. “I recommend wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes and sun hats to also keep body cool. Extreme heat temperatures usually affect our elderly population more, as our patients in this age group often suffer from heart and lung conditions that can be exacerbated on hot days.”