days between the hours of noon and 6 P.M.
* Pay attention to heat warnings issued by your local news stations.
* Children should rest indoors and drink cool fluids at the first sign of being
overheated.
* Signs of heat exhaustion can include: increased thirst, increased sweating, cool
and clammy skin, irritability, weakness or fainting, muscle cramps, nausea and/or vomiting and a headache.
* Signs of heatstroke include: loss of consciousness, seizure, rapid breathing,
confusion and no sweating. This is a medical emergency, and you should seek emergency medical care.
Pest Prevention
* Mosquitos are everywhere and can bite during the day as well as at dusk and dawn when they are most active. Protect your children from these pests with the use of insect repellent and light-colored clothing with long sleeves and long pants.
* Insect repellent with 10- to 30-percent DEET is approved for use in children
older than two months of age. The per- centage of DEET in a product relates to the length of time it provides protection, from two to five hours. It’s best to select a DEET-containing product with the low- est concentration needed for the length of exposure. Always read the labels for instructions. Avoid combination sunscreen and insect repellent, as sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours while insect repellent may not be reapplied in most cases.
* Use of insect repellent can decrease the likelihood of contracting tick- and
mosquito-related illnesses. West Nile is a virus carried by birds and transmitted to people by a mosquito that bites the infected bird, then the human. It can cause
Ready, Set, Grow 19
flu-like symptoms, but it can also lead to serious complications such as encephali- tis and death. DEET also protects against tick bites that can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.
* Always check your children for ticks after being in areas known to have them,
and wash off insect repellent when they return indoors.
* Avoid heavily scented soaps and brightly colored or floral-printed clothing,
as they tend to attract stinging insects such as bees. Keeping your children out of harm’s
way should be your goal. Prevention is key to reducing accidents and the likeli- hood and the severity of injury. Playing it safe can ensure that you and your children have a great, memorable season.
Kathleen Kent, DNP, RN, CPNP, is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Indiana University School of Nursing in the Pediatric & Fam- ily Nurse Practitioner Programs and also works as a certified PNP for Northpoint Pediatrics, Indianapolis.
Remind your kids to drink water before, during and after activities, even if they’re not thirsty
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