As school lets out and the summer heats up, the Council for the Advancement of Public Schools (CAPS) encourages parents to keep heat tolerance in mind. Whether training for school sports or just playing outside, all children can be at risk during steamy summer days.
According to HealthyChildren.org, children have a few key differences in their chemical makeup that make it harder for them to regulate body temperature than adults. Children have more body surface area than body weight so they tend to gain heat faster when the temperature outside rises. While exercising, children generate up to 25 percent more heat for their body weight than adults, due to their higher metabolic rate. Children also have immature sweating mechanisms and a smaller number of sweat glands giving them less ability to get rid of heat by evaporation of sweat.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest keeping children well hydrated in hot weather. The best bet is simple water, since drinks with high sugar concentrations actually cause an individual to lose more body fluid. Be sure to have children wear lightweight, light-colored, loose fitting clothes and use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher when venturing outdoors. Try to limit children’s outdoor activity to morning or evening and keep them in shady areas. Ensure that they rest often and do not overstrain themselves.
If you see any of the signs of heat stroke in children – red, hot and dry skin, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion or unconsciousness – be sure to seek medical attention immediately.
