Advices to avoid the heatstroke 07/21/2016

The summer, in my opinion, is the most beautiful season of the year,

even with mosquitos, sweat, always feeling sticky, AC inside and heat outside create a thermal shock like in the Sahara from day and night... they make it also the hardest to handle. And just excessive heat represents one of the biggest risks for our children. 

Our body maintains its temperature constant. If the weather is cold, we start to shudder and move more, or cover up, to produce and retain heat; if it’s hot, we sweat to disperse the heat.

But when the weather conditions are more accentuated or extreme, more severe winters or dispersion of heat in the summer may be produced: just think about the cold lesions like frostbite or extreme heatstroke, not to be confused with insolation...

Insolation doesn’t always conduct to a heatstroke, but it surely manifests as skin burns caused by an excessive and imprudent solar exposure. Always protect yourself with sunscreen!

But let’s take a closer look at the heatstroke.

What is it? It’s a discomfort that refers to a sudden increase in body temperature.

WHAT IS IT? Combination of heat and humidity, especially during the most critical moments. Exposure to sun can also cause insolation. The sun is good for our children because it helps with production of vitamin D (which affixes calcium in the bones), but we treat the star very carefully, especially during summer and in the 0-12 month period of our child.

HOW DOES IT MANIFEST? 

Nausea even with vomits, headache, cramps, fever. In the worst cases, fainting and feverish convulsions (temperature can reach 41°C).

What to do if you are far from home? Take the child to a shaded and ventilated area or try to protect them from the sun and take air (even with your hand or a newspaper). If you are at home, ventilate the room with a fan and if you have AC, turn it on but without finding penguins in the living room. The key is to lay your baby and lift up their legs. Give them a drink but in small sips and NO cold beverages. If they have fever you can give them an antipyretic.

SUGGESTIONS TO AVOID THE HEAT MOVEMENT:

Dress your child in a light way, with light color cotton or linen clothing (that repels the solar light). If you are in the beach, at the park, in the garden, its best to use a hat.

Avoid exposure during the hottest hours (11am to 5pm). And limit the sports activities or moving games outside during this time.

Use sunscreen and specific protections to limit damage to the skin, like burns and sunburns.

Wet your child’s forehead and head frequently, it is best if you can give them a quick shower to cool them a little.

Maintain an adequate hydration to replenish the lost fluids during transpiration: water always available but never cold, maybe a specific supplement (consult your pediatrician).

Let them eat a lot of fruits and vegetables (if you can) even as a snack.

Like always, I want to remind you that this is only general information that doesn’t replace the medical opinion of your child’s pediatrician. In case of doubt or if your child worsens in sickness, don’t hesitate to contact a doctor or go the the ER.