Greetings McMeen Families!
Wow! I don't know about you, but I sure wasn't expecting Denver to get this hot so soon!
We don't want to deter children (and adults!) from spending time outdoors due to the many benefits playing outside has on child health and development. However, as we get ready to close out this school year and enter the fun Summer months, it's important to make sure that we're taking care of our children and ourselves in the heat.
Healthychildren.org features a helpful article on safety in high temperature, written by Dele Davies, MD, MS, MHCM, FAAP. Please review the following information provided by Dr. Davies and click on the provided links for more information on each topic. To access the entire article click here.
Tips to beat the heat
If you are going to be outside, there are several steps you can take to beat the heat and protect your child from heat-related illness and hazards:
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Stay hydrated: Encourage your children to drink water frequently and have it readily available—even before they ask for it. Take water bottles with you if you go out. On hot days, infants receiving breast milk in a bottle can be given additional breast milk in a bottle, but they should not be given water, especially in the first 6 months of life. Infants receiving formula can be given additional formula in a bottle.
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Dress lightly: Light-colored clothing can help kids stay cool and prevent heat stress from excessive heat absorption; darker colored clothes typically provide slightly better sun protection. Also try to choose loose fitting clothing—ideally that offers both adequate ventilation and protection against direct sun exposure. Clothing made with just one layer of absorbent material can help maximize evaporation of sweat, which has a cooling effect (kids have lower sweat rates adults). Use plenty of sunscreen.
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Plan for extra rest time: Heat can often make children (and their parents) feel tired. High heat can not only cause people to feel tired, but it may also contribute to irritability. Come inside regularly to cool off, rest and drink water.
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Cool off with water. When your child is feeling hot, give them a cool bath or water mist to cool down. Swimming is another great way to cool off while staying active. Remember that children should always be supervised while swimming or playing in water to prevent drowning.
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Never leave your child alone in a car: The inside of a car can become dangerously hot in just a short amount of time, even with the windows open.
Stay safe and cool out there! 😎
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