Health care providers share tips to keep children safe during heat wave
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – With the temperature expected to reach highs in the 90s over the next few days, local physicians are issuing a warning regarding children.
Health care providers are urging parents and guardians to keep a close eye on their children – their behavior, activity level and water consumption as the heat wave makes its way to central Ohio.
Eric Leighton – the functional rehab leader for sports medicine at Nationwide Children’s explains managing the heat is all about paying attention to the little one’s and being proactive.
“It’s a good reminder but hydration they’ve got to make sure they are taking water breaks,” Leighton said.
He explains to keep the water flowing, and be sure to schedule breaks from play or sports to do so.
“One of the biggest things to remember is you don’t always know when you’re thirsty,” Leighton said.
While this advice is great for children of all ages he said the younger children are quite susceptible to heat related illness like overheating.
“Overheating we are going to see a couple different things, one of the most common things – they are going to start to get very tired, you’ll see the skin get very flush, very red,” Leighton said.
The CDC recommends dressing infants and children in loose, lightweight clothing and of course to never leave children in a parked car, even if the windows are open.
“So just like how our elderly can be prone to it, so can our younger kids,” Leighton said.
Another piece of advice – pay close attention to health-related conditions like asthma in the heat. High temperatures can often worsen conditions.