First Aid
Avoid direct sunlight and midday heat. You are most vulnerable to a heat-relat- ed illness between 10 A.M. and 4 P. M.
fl uids, especially water or sports drinks. Gen- eral hydration guidelines suggest 100 mL to 250 mL (3 to 8 oz) every 20 minutes for 9- to 12-year-olds, and up to 1 to 1.5 L (34 to 50 oz) per hour for adolescents. • Take frequent breaks to cool down, and drink more fl uids during play, even when not thirsty. Sometimes, kids may be so busy having fun, they forget to stop and drink. Thirst is an early sign of dehydration. • Offer Popsicles, ice-cold drinks and slushies — which kids enjoy — to keep them hydrated. • Watch for decreased urine output. If it has been several hours since your child’s last trip to the bathroom, it’s likely he’s not drinking enough fl uids. Urine should be clear or light yellow. • Avoid direct ultraviolet (UV) sunlight and midday heat. Your child is most vulnerable to a heat-related illness between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M., when the sun is most intense. Try to exercise early in the day or when the sun is going down. Remember, kids can still get sunburned and overheated in the shade if it’s hot enough. About 75 percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate the clouds. Be extra-vigilant at higher elevations where UV light is more intense.
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• Organized athletic activities should be limited or restricted during days with a high heat index. Team coaches should offer more hydration breaks (before, during and after the activity), ensure that there are shady areas in which to cool down/rest, and substitute players often during practices and games. Kids who are ill or are recover- ing from a fever or a stomach illness should not participate until they’re completely well, with normal hydration returned. • Wear loose, single-layered, light-colored cloth- ing to aid the evaporation of sweat. Light-colored clothes refl ect heat, while dark clothes absorb it. Cotton clothing will help you keep cool. Don’t forget a hat to shade the face and neck. • Kids burn easily. Apply SPF-30 sunscreen with UVA and UVB sun protection to unprotected skin 30 minutes before going out. Re-apply every two to three hours, especially after swimming. • Teach kids to come indoors immediately if they feel overheated. • Never leave your child in the car unattended. Cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures. Even with the window partially down, the car tem- perature can reach 125° F in just a few minutes. Remember, heat-related illnesses in kids
are usually preventable. Make sure your children drink plenty of fl uids, and monitor their time and activity in the summer heat!
Robin D. Schier, DNP, APRN, CPNP, AC/PC, is a board-certifi ed primary and acute care PNP in Houston, TX. She is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and is currently practicing in the Emergency Center at Texas Children’s Hospital.
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