Protect Your Child From the Heat

Article by Allen Lawrence, M.D.

Last week, we ran an article on pets — dogs and cats being overtaken by the heat. One of our pet-lover fans called to thank us for the information about protecting pets. During the conversation, she announced to me, “You know, I read what you said very carefully and realized that my kids could also be affected by the heat, and I think you should also warn parents on how to protect their children.” Then she quickly added, “Say it’s from pet lovers everywhere to parents everywhere, don’t forget to protect your children, as well as your pets, from the heat.”

I realized immediately she was right. Parents also need to know how to protect their children, so here it is from pet lovers and parents.

Clearly the scorching heat is taking a toll all through the Coachella Valley, as we come close to near-record temperatures. The heat has been reaching triple digits with temperature well above 105 degrees. Our kids are on their way to school, at school and returning from school in the blistering heat. Once out of school, many are playing outside at outdoor activities in full swing, as the dangerous heat, over activity and then their not drinking enough fluids, can create a very hazardous, potentially deadly, combination of events working against them.

It’s always important to keep your kids hydrated, but when you’re dealing with this kind of heat, it can be especially dangerous, hence especially important. Dehydration can put kids at risk for heat-related illnesses like heat stroke. It can even put them in mortal danger. Some children will develop serious problems such as rhabdomyolysis. This is a condition where their muscles break down and clog the body with harmful byproducts which can, if unrecognized and left untreated, lead to damaged muscle cells from crystals in the urine and possibly even kidney failure.

Here are some tips to help you keep your kids (also the elderly in the home) well hydrated now and over the rest of the summer:

1. Make sure your kids drink plenty of water — all day. Kids need to drink water to stay hydrated. While juice, soda and milk may be great for meals, water is important the rest of the day, especially if they out of the house or the house is warmer than 75 degrees. One strategy is to withhold the treats they want until they drink the water their body needs. If they are not drinking or refusing to drink — hound them until they do drink what they need. If they are old enough and smart enough, sit them down and explain to them that they can get very sick from the heat and that drinking lots of water can help prevent this from happening.

2. Limit outside activity during the hottest part of the day. Avoid having your kids running and playing outside when it is exceptionally hot during the mid- to late afternoon part of the day. If they are unreliable, watch them. It might seem inconvenient to watch their activities indoors and out, but believe me, it is much less inconvenient then visiting them in the hospital, taking them to dialysis or planning their funeral.

3. Make sure they wear light-colored, light-fabric clothing. Dark colors absorb heat, while light colors reflect heat. Light fabrics breathe while heavy synthetic fabrics trap heat. Kids are often not wise enough to tell their parent they are baking inside of their clothing. If they tend to burn, have them wear long sleeves; long-sleeve shirts not only protect from the sun, but keep the body cooler by reducing sweating.

4. Make sure that your kids have lots of water breaks. Interrupt your kids’ playtime periodically for water breaks and lather some sunscreen on them while you’re at it. If they are sweating or look dehydrated, throw them in the pool or give them a shower. Give them some salty foods to eat. While we normally tell parents to keep salt away from their kids, when it is hot and they are sweating, salt can save their life. Make sure that your kids drink at least (maybe more if they are big and it is hot) two big gulps of water during each water break, if they don’t tell them they can’t go back to what they were playing.

5. Always be prepared. If you are traveling or out for long periods of time, bring water. Never count on buying water at your destination or using drinking fountains when and if you see them. Always pack water for outside activities. Get stainless steel, environmentally friendly water bottles, keep them filled with water and keep them with you at all time.

Infants and toddlers are often at greatest risk for dehydration, as they can’t get the water they need on their own, and they can’t tell you they are thirsty. So watch your infants and toddlers very, very carefully.

How Will I Know if My Child is Dehydrated?

That is an excellent question. With extreme temperatures, dehydration can happen quickly, so it is essential that you watch your kids for signs that they’re not getting enough fluid:

1. Crying but not making tears.

2. Sunken eyes.

3. Tenting of the skin. You can easily test this by pinching the skin on the back of your child’s hand and releasing quickly. If it takes time for your skin to return to normal you might be dehydrated. Practice this when the child is well hydrated to see how fast his or her rebounds, then you will have no questions if you have a problem.

4. Decreased urine output, the child is not going to the restroom as often as usual. If you check your child’s urine, it will likely be dark yellow or even brown, as versed to very light yellow or colorless when well hydrated. Your child should urinate at least four times a day. The urine should be clear. If it is yellow and smells strong, this is another sign that your child is not drinking enough water. Push them to drink water, immediately.