If you’ve been watching the news, you will know that there are heat-wave alerts around the country. In my area, our heat index is in the 90s.
Unfortunately, it is VERY easy to unknowingly become over-heated, and kids are especially susceptible. See today’s instagram post for a story about a patient who had this happen.
For parents, knowing the signs of heat illness & when to be concerned is important, especially because children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to heat injury.
What is heat illness?
When our bodies make too much heat, or are exposed to too much heat, they cannot adequately cool themselves down.
And if the environment is humid, then the mechanisms that our bodies rely on for cooling (such as evaporation) become less efficient.
This is especially true when the temperature is >90-95 F (32-35 C) and the humidity is >75%, so in these conditions we need to be extra vigilant about heat injury.
Kids are at higher risk:
Due to their anatomy and physiology, kids are at higher risk for overheating than adults.
- They have higher body surface area — so they can absorb heat more quickly in hot environments
- They don’t lost heat (sweat) as efficiently
- They have a higher basal metabolic rate
- They can get dehydrated more easily
- Younger kids, especially, are less able to recognize and communicate warning signs - which means it is extra important for parents to be watching them
Preventing heat injury
There are measures you can take to pro-actively to prevent heat injury. Here are a few:
- Minimize time spent in temps >90F (eg outdoors/limit sporting activities in this weather, or in a hot car)
- Avoid sunlight during the hottest part of the day (10am - 3pm)
- Wear appropriate clothing (single layer of absorbed, loose fitting clothing in light colors, UPF 30-50). Layer methods of sun protection (sunscreen, hat, time in the shade, etc). Remember: sun protection is not the same as heat protection!
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
- Layer methods of sun protection (sunscreen, hat, time in the shade, etc)
Is heat injury serious?
Heat illness can range from relatively minor reactions (such as heat rash) all the way to heat stroke, which can be fatal. I like to think about it in four separate categories, as below.
Over-heating
Over-heating is the first stage of heat illness, and it is usually fairly mild. Especially in younger children, who may not be aware of the need to communicate if they’re feeling over-heated (or may be too young to do so), watch for non-verbal signs that they’re too hot. These can include:
- Flushing
- Sweating excessively
- Thirst
- Heat rash
- Decreased urine output or other signs of dehydration
- Dizziness
- Core body temperature may or may not be elevated
What to do:
- Get out of the heat: go into natural shade, or an air conditioned room/car
- Rest and minimize further physical activity which will in turn minimize further heat production and stress on the body
- Consider touching base with your pediatrician if you're concerned, esp for younger infants
- Push electrolyte-containing fluids .
Tip: We do not recommend fever-reducing medications. the body is not over-heating because of a change in the “set-point” of the body temperature, which is what happens with you have a fever. So the fever-reducer will not decrease the body temperature. Additionally, because heat injury is associated with dehydration, the stress on the kidneys and liver when trying to metabolize medications like Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen may be increased.
