During the last time we have to deal with quite hot days every day that can cause many problems with our health. What do we need to remember when hot weather causes unnecessary problems for our children’s life.
Vacation time already almost started and you’re probably planning trips to the beach, backyard barbeques and playground play dates.
HERE A FEW KEY TIPS TO SAFELY HEAD OUTSIDE WHEN IT’S HOT.
LIMITING DAYTIME SUN
When planning daytime activities is good to limit sun exposure as much as possible between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is strongest. That rule is especially important for infants, who are less able to sweat.
SUN SAFETY
⦁ Older kids should be kept out of the sun as much as possible, particularly in the summer and between 11am and 3pm
⦁ If you go out when it’s hot, attach an umbrella or sunshade to your baby’s pushchair to keep them out of direct sunlight.
⦁ Apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 to your baby's skin. Make sure the product also protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply the sun cream regularly.
⦁ Make sure your child wears a sunhat with a wide brim or a long flap at the back, to protect their head and neck from the sun.
AVOID DEHYDRATION
Everybody, especially children need to drink plenty of fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated because their body surface, as a proportion of their overall weight, is much greater than an adult's. So they produce more heat during physical activity and they sweat less than adults. This reduces their ability to get rid of body heat and could lead to dehydration.
Make sure children drink often even if the children aren't thirsty- about every 20 minutes.
BE CREATIVE!
⦁ kids over six months old and they get bored with water, try giving them a combination of very diluted fruit juice, ice cubes and homemade fruit juice
⦁ older children, plenty of fruit and salad will also help keep their fluid levels up.
⦁ WARNING SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION
⦁ Seems tired
⦁ Has dark eyes
⦁ Is irritable or crying
⦁ Has hot and dry skin or looks pale
⦁ Has a high temperature
⦁ Vomits or has diarrhoea
⦁ Is not eating or drinking
Autor: Aleksandra
Studentka Wyższej Szkoły im. Pawła Włodkowica w Płocku na kierunku: Edukacja Wczesnoszkolna i Wychowanie Przedszkolne. Absolwentka Oxford Cherwell College w Wielkiej Brytanii oraz policealnej szkoły medycznej na kierunku Ratownik Medyczny
