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Hot
Summer Days, Kids and Exercise Don't Mix
Life Saving Tips for Your Children
Children
are at a greater risk for heat exhaustion, dehydration and
heat-induced illness than adults. This summer coaches, summer
camp personnel and parents need to be aware of the potential
hazards of high-intensity exercise in hot and humid climates
like Tampa Bay, and to take measures to prevent heat-related
illness in children and adolescents.
Symptoms
of heat exhaustion due to exercise or play activities plus
inadequate fluid intake include weakness, dizziness, slow
pulse and clammy skin. If sweating fails to cool your child's
body, heat exhaustion can lead to confusion, collapse, rapid
pulse, and dry skin. Heatstroke isn't necessary fatal, but
it has been known to leave people with permanent brain damage.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following
to reduce the risk of heat stress for children and adolescents:
-
The
intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should
be reduced whenever high heat and humidity reach critical
levels.
-
At
the beginning of a strenuous exercise program or after
traveling to a warmer climate, the intensity and duration
of exercise should be limited initially and then gradually
increased during a period of 10 to 14 days to accomplish
acclimatization to the heat.
-
Before
prolonged physical activity, the child should be well-hydrated.
During the activity, periodic drinking should be enforced,
for example: each 20 minutes, 5 oz of cold tap water or
a flavored sports drink for a child weighing 88 lbs, and
9 oz for an adolescent weighing 132 lbs, even if the child
does not feel thirsty.
Risky
Heat Levels
Exercising children are able to dissipate heat effectively
in a neutral or mildly warm climate. However, when air temperature
exceeds 95° they have a lower exercise tolerance than
do adults. Also, the higher the air temperature, the greater
the effect on the child. It is important to emphasize that
humidity is a major component of heat stress, sometimes
even more important than air temperature.
The
Academy recommends the following restrictions on athletic
activity:
-
At
temperatures below 75ºF, all activities are allowed.
But heat stress can still occur so parents must be alert
for symptoms.
-
Between
75ºF and 78.6ºF, there should be longer rest
periods and children should still drink adequate fluids
every 15 minutes.
-
Between
79ºF and 84ºF, children who are not acclimated
to the heat or climate are at high risk and should not
participate in outside activities altogether
-
Above
85ºF, all athletic activities should be cancelled.
Drink
Fluids Often
Children frequently do not feel the need to drink enough
to replenish fluid loss during prolonged exercise. This
may lead to severe dehydration. Children with mental retardation
are at special risk for not recognizing the need to replace
the fluid loss. A major consequence of dehydration is an
excessive increase in core body temperature. Thus, the dehydrated
child is more prone to heat-related illness than the fully
hydrated child.
Although
water is an easily available drink, a flavored beverage
may be preferable because the child may drink more of it
- like the popular sports drinks. Salt tablets should be
avoided, because of their high content of sodium chloride.
Information
for this article was provided by The American Academy of
Pediatrics.
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