There are many places around the country where 100 degrees is the norm and those people are aware of the dangers of the heat. But, there are other places where 100-degree weather happens only every couple of years, so it often creeps up on you when you’re enjoying the hot weather outside. There are many dangers associated with the heat, which is why it’s so important to know the signs.
Martha Garcia had a scare with the heat when she and her children spent a little too much time outside. The temperature was 102 degrees outside and she took her kids to the park. She made sure to apply sunscreen on them and even kept some ice water close by so that they could stay hydrated.
They came back home and had a snack while playing outside since they were still wearing their wet swimsuits. They rode their bikes, ran, and lounged in the backyard enjoying the sunshine.
Shortly after Garcia noticed that her son was looking a little tired, instead of running around and playing, he just wanted to lay down, completely unmotivated. She noticed that he would move slowly and just wanted to sit down, which made her think that something was off.
She Googled “heat exhaustion in children” because her child’s behavior was making her feel uneasy and she found that her son might be experiencing the symptoms of heat exhaustion. She took his temperature and it was over 102 degrees. At this point, he was being very quiet and only wanted to shut his eyes and go to sleep.
When she hugged him she noticed that his skin was hot and he was asking for a blanket because he was feeling cold. This is when Garcia jumped into panic mode and began to ask for help. She called her doctor and explained her son’s symptoms and he agreed that her child might be experiencing heat exhaustion.
The doctor instructed Garcia to give him a cold bath and put ice packs on his body to help him cool off as well as give him Tylenol to help with the high temperature. He told her to watch for nausea, confusion, and lethargy because if he continued to have those symptoms, then she would have to take him to the emergency room.
Garcia did everything by the book and after 15 minutes she took his temperature again and his temperature began to decrease. Luckily, she followed her gut feeling and acted quickly because otherwise, her child might have suffered from something more serious like a heat stroke.
What are the signs?
There are two types of heat exhaustion. The first is associated with the lack of water, where a person has excessive thirst, weakness, headache, and loss of consciousness. The second is the lack of salt, which can include nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness.
During the hot summer months it’s important to limit the time you spend outside and if you are going to be spending a lot of time outside, make sure you take breaks and come inside where it’s cool. Try to stay away from the direct sunlight, find some shade and wear sunscreen. Also, drink plenty of water and avoid caffeine and alcohol. Don’t wear tight clothes or dark colors; instead wear light, loose-fit clothing. Make sure you check the temperature and pay attention to the heat index; anything above 90 degrees can put you at risk for heat exhaustion. Don’t forget about your pets too, because they too can suffer from heat exhaustion.