A cool idea
Dr. Scott Sokol is a pediatrician practicing in Hicksville, NY. Dr. Sokol is a doctor who specializes in the health care of children. As a pedicatrician, Dr. Sokol diagnoses and treats infections, injuries, diseases and other disorders in children. Pediatricians typically work with infants, children, teenagers and young... more
It used to be that the time you worried about your child's body temperature was when the child had some kind of illness with fever. Not so anymore. The new danger is what used to be a nice outdoor playtime is now fraught with excessive heat especially in what used to be a nice comfortable summer day. Every day you read about stories about adults who have experienced the vagaries of heat-related complications. The problem of course with kids is that not only are their precious little bodies more prone to heat-related problems but they may not be able to verbalize what they are feeling.
Keep in mind then some of the signs of overheating in kids. They include dizziness and headaches, nausea and vomiting, excessive thirst and lethargy, and even fainting. This is the time to act quickly. Immediately move the child to an indoor air-conditioned place. Start rehydration with oral fluids, especially those with some electrolytes like sports drinks. Most important is allowing the body to release excess heat. This can be accomplished by doing what you would do if your child had an illness with fever. However, the old wives' tale of putting a cool rag on the forehead does nothing really. The procedure is easily done. Undress your child and run a quick bath with lukewarm water and wet the body surface with water while standing from the top of the head to the top of the feet. After a couple of minutes, dry off the child and put on some light-fitting clothes. You will be amazed how much better both of you will feel after this simple procedure.
Lastly, try to avoid this problem from the start. Try to encourage indoor activity most of the time. If playing outdoors, light clothing, frequent rests, and water breaks help a lot. Of course, monitor for signs of impending heat problems and do the same for yourself. The end result should be when sitting at dinner later in the day, you can say, "Didn't we have a great day!"
