HMC Urges Parents to Be Smart in Shielding Children from Heat-Related Illnesses

Qatar

With schools closed and children at home for the long summer break, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) reminds parents and caregivers to protect children from excessive heat and humidity to prevent heat-related illnesses, which are more prevalent during the summer months.

Experts at HMC advise parents to be cautious and avoid exposing children to high temperatures or humidity during outdoor activities.

“Children are at higher risk of developing heat-related illnesses if exposed to high temperatures because they don’t adapt to environmental changes as quickly as most healthy adults. Therefore, it’s crucial for parents or caregivers to ensure children’s outdoor playtime occurs when temperature and humidity are low, or they can play in air-conditioned or shaded areas,” explains Dr. Rafael Consunji, Director of Hamad Trauma Center’s Hamad Injury Protection Program (HIPP). He emphasizes the importance of vigilance, stating, "Hot weather can be dangerous for everyone, but for children, the dangers are amplified. A child’s temperature can rise five times faster than an adult’s, especially on hot days."

Common signs and symptoms of heat stress and heat-related illnesses include elevated body temperature, cool or clammy skin, irritability, increased thirst and sweating, headache, feeling faint, dizzy, or weak. If these signs are unrecognized or ignored, they can lead to more severe conditions like heat exhaustion and stroke.

“Children should not be left unsupervised outdoors. With rising temperatures, we remind the public of the increased health risks of children playing outside. While it’s understandable that parents might want to take their children to the beach, pool, or parks to cool off or relax, it’s advisable to follow heat prevention precautions. These include ensuring children wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing, using a timer to limit their direct heat exposure to 30 minutes or less, and drinking cold fluids every 15 minutes while outside,” Dr. Consunji emphasizes.

Dr. Consunji recommends these proven ‘SMART’ techniques to reduce your child’s risk of heat-related illnesses:

1. Supervise children as they play outdoors to quickly identify and address any signs of heat-related illnesses.

2. Monitor local heat and humidity forecasts using weather apps to stay informed about heat warnings or extreme temperatures.

3. Avoid unshaded play areas and surfaces that absorb and reflect heat, such as asphalt, concrete, and dark-colored or reflective surfaces.

4. Regular breaks every 30 minutes to bring children into air-conditioned or shaded spaces and to drink cool liquids every 15 minutes. Dry their sweat, provide a cool towel wipe, and change clothes if necessary. Use a phone alarm with lively sounds or songs and make it a game so children enjoy these breaks.

5. Time outdoor play before 10 am and after 4 pm to minimize dangerous heat exposure.

 

 

Source: The Peninsula Qatar