Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
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Heat Reactions, Prevention of
There are three main reactions a child might have to a hot
environment: heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps.
All heat reactions are caused by an excessive loss of water
through sweating. To prevent your child from having a heat
reaction, follow these suggestions:
- Make sure your child drinks a lot of cool water whenever
she is working or exercising in a hot environment. Water
is ideal for replacing lost sweat. Very little salt is
lost in sweat. Special glucose-electrolyte solutions such
as Gatorade offer no advantage over water unless your
child has been exercising for over an hour.
- Have your child take 5-minute water breaks every
25 minutes in the shade. Encourage your child to drink
water even if he is not thirsty. He may not feel thirsty
until he is almost dehydrated. Tell your child the more
water he drinks during hot weather, the better.
- Don't give your child salt tablets. They are not
necessary. They also slow down stomach emptying and delay
the absorption of water, which the body badly needs.
- Dress your child in a single layer of light-colored,
lightweight clothing. Your child should change clothes if
they become wet with perspiration.
- Athletic coaches recommend that exercise sessions be
shortened and less vigorous if the air temperature is over
82 degrees F (28 degrees C), especially if the humidity is
high.
- Limit the amount of time your child spends in a hot tub to
15 minutes. Encourage her to have a friend with her in
case either of them should have a heat reaction. Children
who have fevers or have just exercised vigorously should
should not go into hot tubs or saunas. Their bodies need
to release heat instead of getting hotter.
- Protect infants with fevers from heat stroke by not
bundling them in blankets or too much clothing.
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