Have you ever wondered or give it a thought that, which is the most amazing time for kids in an year? Probably, you will say Eid ul fitr. When children collects eidi from their parents and relatives, play different kind of games with their cousins and friends, or go to some amusement parks with their family etc. Or you will say Eid ul azha, where they vigorously want to take part in the qurbani, and want to hold the rope of their favorite Qurbani ka janwar. Well, the thing is what you are thinking is wrong because, in any year, summer’s been an absolute blessing to the kids and their most favorite time of the year. WOW…. we can feel that kind of reaction on your face. You must be wondering how it can be, and you are having certain questions in your mind. Well that’s because of those long and the longest holidays they spend at home. They like those 2-3 months of vacations more than that of 1-3 days’ vacation of EID. They imagine it as an endless fun. Because they are free to do whatever they want, not worrying about any kind of restriction or waking up early for school. No doubt, summer is the most blissful season for kids. But, you should know that, despite of being blissful, it’s the hottest season. You must be wondering like, why we are telling you this. It’s a common thing to know. Well, we agree with that, but the thing you must care about during summers is heat stroke. It is very serious condition in which a person’s body overheats when it exposed to sun for a long period of time. Here’s what happens in this condition.
- The body’s temperature rises rapidly.
- The sweating mechanism fails.
- The body is unable to cool down.
Statistical data:
Do you know, each year an average of about 658 people succumb to extreme heat, and majority of them are kids? That’s a quite big number isn’t it? If you are wondering why majority of the heat stroke patients are children, then let us tell you that, kids are so much energetic that they always want to play outside. They don’t care about the hot weather or anything else. So, due to this long exposure of their bodies in front of sun, results heat stroke in them. So, during summer vacations, it’s parent’s responsibility to keep their child safe. Spending time outside is okay, but proper hydration, clothing, and rest periods can avoid heat stroke.
Signs and Symptoms:
Here the main question arises regarding the condition that, how can we notice the symptoms of heat stroke? Below are described the symptoms of heat stroke in children.
- A body temperature that rises dangerously high – above 104˚ Fahrenheit
- Absence of sweating
- Confusion, disorientation
- Flushed, hot and dry skin (skin may be wet)
- Loss of consciousness
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Rapid heartbeat and breathing
- Severe headache
- Seizures
- Weakness and/or dizziness
What to Do:
If your kid is affected by heat stroke then what to do? If you notice the above mentioned symptoms in your child, then he/she must be suffering from heat stroke. Therefore, seek emergency medical treatment immediately, and take the following actions as soon as possible.
- Bring your child indoors or into shade and undress him or her
- Begin rapid cooling by immersing him or her in a bathtub of cold water
- If a bathtub is not available, apply cold towels over much of the body replacing frequently
- Avoid pushing fluids unless your child is conscious and alert
When to call the doctor:
With the above mentioned measures, you can deal with heat stroke at home, but if the condition is severe, and your child is not getting any recovery from these home remedies, then you should go to your doctor. The doctor can advise you the best course of action and can tell you whether an immediate evaluation is needed or not. Immediately call your doctor, if you notice the following symptoms.
- Extreme tiredness (e.g., unusually sleepy, drowsy, or hard to arouse)
- Intense thirst
- Not urinating for many hours
- Breathing faster or deeper than normal
- Skin numbness or tingling
- Muscle aches
- Muscle spasms
Prevention measures:
As it is said that precaution is better than cure, so if you are thinking about how you can prevent your child from heat stroke, then go for the following precautions.
- Teach kids to always drink plenty of water before and during any activity in hot, sunny weather even if they aren’t thirsty.
- Make sure kids wear light-colored, loose clothing in warm weather.
- Remind kids to look for shaded areas and rest often while outside.
- Don’t let kids participate in heavy activity outdoors during the hottest hours of the day.
- Teach kids to come indoors immediately whenever they feel overheated.