For kids, summer can revolve around playgrounds, pools, bikes and just being outside. For parents, it can mean a litany of ouchies to take care of — including scrapes, sunburns and dehydration, pediatricians say. “Kids should play and have every opportunity to use their imagination, but we need to take precautions to keep them as safe as possible,” Dr.
Danielle Mercurio, a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Here are the top things pediatricians say you should keep an eye on. What to do when your child is overheated It’s important to take precautions in warmer weather, especially with younger kids, who are more susceptible to heat illness, Mercurio said.
That means keeping a water bottle with them when they’re outside, wearing sun-protective clothing and and not staying in the sun too long. Parents also should monitor kids for signs of fatigue and pay attention to the warmth and color of their skin — if it’s red and hot, they probably need to take a break inside or under a shaded area. You should also know what the three different types of heat illness are, Mercurio said, each more severe than the next.
The first is heat cramps, and the only remedy is giving kids fluids that contain electrolytes — like coconut water or sports drinks — to replenish salts that the body lost from sweating. The next level is heat exhaustion, which causes nausea, vomiting and feeling weak or anxious. It’s typically accompanied by a fever.
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