CHILDREN AND HEAT STRESS

~ INTRO: THE HOTTER THE AIR TEMPERATURE AND THE HIGHER THE HUMIDITY, CHILDREN HAVE A LOWER TOLERANCE TO THE HEAT THAN ADULTS AND ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT STRESS.

~WHILE THE ADULTS ARE WILTED ON A SWELTERING SUMMER DAY, KIDS SEEM TO BREEZE THROUGH THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY. BUT WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT KIDS ARE AT A GREATER RISK FOR HEAT STRESS.

1. CHILDREN’S BODY HAVE A GREATER SKIN SURFACE AREA COMPARED TO THEIR BODY MASS, WHICH MEANS THEY ABSORB MORE HEAT ON A HOT DAY THAN AN ADULT WOULD.

2. CHILDREN’S METABOLIC RATE IS HIGHER, SO THEY GENERATE MORE HEAT FROM INSIDE THEIR BODIES

3. ONE WAY OUR BODIES LOSE HEAT IS BY SWEATING. AND CHILDREN DO NOT SWEAT AS MUCH AS ADULTS, WHICH MAKES IT HARDER FOR CHILDREN TO COOL OFF.

~ HIGH RISK SITUATIONS FOR HEAT STRESS:

1. HIGH HUMIDITY: 70% OF HEAT STRESS IS DUE TO HUMIDITY

2. PROLONGED PLAY AND EXERCISE

3. BEING LEFT IN A CAR: TEMPERATURES INSIDE A CAR CAN

REACH DEADLY LEVELS WITHIN MINUTES. TEMPERATURES

INSIDE A CAR CAN REACH DEADLY LEVELS WITHIN MINUTES.

A STUDY DONE BY THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS

FOUND THAT EVEN AT RELATIVELY COOL TEMPERATURES,

VEHICLES HEAT UP RAPIDLY, ABOUT 3 DEGREES EVERY 5

MINUTES, AND IT DIDN’T MATTER WHETHER THE WINDOWS

WERE CLOSED OR CRACKED OPEN. WHEN THE OUTSIDE

TEMPERATURE IS 86 DEGREES OR HOTTER, THE

TEMPERATURE IN THE INSIDE OF A CAR CAN REACH 134 – 154

DEGREES. THIS IS DEADLY FOR ANYONE LEFT IN A CAR.

3 STAGES OF HEAT STRESS:

1. DEHYDRATION

a. CHILD NOT URINATED FOR 8 OR MORE HOURS

b. CRY WITHOUT TEARS

c. INSIDE OF MOUTH IS DRY

Rx: FLUIDS

2. HEAT EXHAUSTION

a. DIZZINESS/WEAKNESS

b. NAUSEA

c. HEADACHE

d. STOMACH AND LEG CRAMPS

e. SKIN IS COLD AND DAMP

Rx: LAY CHILD DOWN IN COOL PLACE, REMOVE CLOTHING,

PLACE COOL. MOIST CLOTHS ON ARMS AND FOREHEAD,

FAN THE CHILD, GIVE FLUIDS. IF CHILD DOES NOT IMPROVE,

GET IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE FOR CHILD

3. HEAT STROKE

a. HIGH BODY TEMPERATURE: 105 DEGREES

b. RED DRY HOT SKIN WITHOUT SWEATING

c. LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Rx: EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE, CHILD

COULD DIE IF NOT TREATED IMMEDIATELY

~ PREVENTION:

1. CLOTHING SHOULD BE ONLY ONE LAYER, LIGHT COLORED, LIGHT WEIGHT, AND CHANGED IF BECOMES WET.

2. ADEQUATE HYDRATION, ESPECIALLY DURING PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES, EVEN IF CHILD DOES NOT FEEL THIRSTY; AVOID CAFFEINATED, SUGARY DRINKS AND SALT TABLETS