Hot Tips for Heat Stress
Hot Tips for Heat Stress
Heat Stress occurs when high temperatures and humidity become trapped in your child’s body. Children are more at risk for heat related illnesses because they sweat less than adults. Sweating is one of the body’s main ways to get rid of heat. Children also may not know when to rest, especially when they are having fun and playing sports. This makes it easy for them to become over-heated. Children who have no pre-existing health conditions, such as cystic fibrosis or heart conditions, are more at risk to develop heat stress.
Heat stress is a serious, potentially fatal condition. Possible early symptoms of heat stress include:
· Flushed face
· Leg cramps
· Feeling of weakness or nausea.
Possible later symptoms include:
· Fever or heavy sweating
· Anxiety
· Pale, clammy skin
Severe symptoms include:
· Confusion or hysterical behavior
· Absence of sweating
· Loss of consciousness
Prevention is the best treatment for heat related illnesses.
The following are tips for preventing heat stress during periods of intense heat and humidity:
§ Provide plenty of clear, tepid fluids; encourage drinking at regular intervals. Do not rely solely on the child’s thirst to determine the need to drink.
§ Avoid being outside during the peak hours of 10am to 4pm or seek shade.
§ Insist that children rest and cool down frequently
§ Watch for early signs of heat stress and start cooling the child right away.
§ Use sun hats or umbrellas for shade
§ Do not give salt tablets because they slow down the absorption of water
§ Allow the child to become conditioned to heat by gradually extending length of time exposed.
You should call the doctor for any signs of heat exhaustion and if muscle cramps are not relieved with treatment. Call 911 right away if the child shows any signs of heat stroke.
Types of heat stress:
ü Heat cramps—most common and least serious. They are spasms in the muscle that result from a salt imbalance cause by strenuous exercise in hot humid conditions. Cramping usually occurs in the arms, legs or abdomen. Overexertion of muscles or inadequate warm-up before exercise can also cause heat cramps. Symptoms can include painful cramps, flushed face, nausea, weakness, and possibly a fever of 98.6-101degrees F.
Treatment of heat cramps:
ü Slowly stretch the cramping muscle and follow by gentle massage if the cramping persists. Overly hard or deep massage can cause pain and damage the muscle.
ü Give the child a diluted sports drink
ü Move the child to an air conditioned or fanned area
ü Undress the child or wet down clothing
ü Make sure the child rests at least two days after an episode of multiple cramps.
¨ Heat exhaustion—an illness that results from excessive exposure to heat and or physical activity. Symptoms can include a fever greater than 102 degrees F; flu-like symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea; strong thirst; heavy sweating; excessive worry; cool, pale and clammy skin.
Treatment of heat exhaustion:
ü Give the child a cooling drink diluted Gatorade or other sports drink, cool water
ü Move the child to an air conditioned or fanned area.
ü Undress the child and wet down the skin
ü Call your child’s doctor if the child does not seem back to normal with a few minutes
· Heat stroke --can be a life-threatening emergency. The trapped heat can cause injury to kidneys, liver, heart and brain and sometimes can even cause death. Symptoms can include:
· a fever greater than 106 degrees F
· confusion
· agitation
· no sweating
· hysterical behavior
· possible coma
Treatment of heat stroke:
ü Call 911
ü Have the child drink a cooling drink if conscious
ü Undress the child and wet down the skin (pack in ice if available)
This general healthcare information should not be used as a substitute or in place of contacting your child’s healthcare provider. If you need further assistance, call 404. 250.kids to speak to a pediatric nurse. For more information check out the website for Children Healthcare of Atlanta
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta www.choa.org 404-250-kids
