Summer means it is hot in Arizona, especially in the Phoenix area. Extreme heat is hard for children to understand. They still want to be outside – running, jumping, playing sports – but in extreme heat these things can be dangerous and even deadly. Here are some simple guidelines to keep your children safe during the extreme heat.
Find recreational activities indoors. The library is a great, free, place to have a retreat from the heat. Many gyms and daycares also have summer programs that get kids out of the house but safe indoors. Check out the movies that are playing in your nearby theaters as well.
Drink lots of water. Make sure your child stays hydrated by encouraging them to drink water regularly. This is especially true when they’ve been active, outdoors or indoors.
Schedule down time. The heat tends to wear everyone out faster and make little ones feel more tired. Use the time to read books or play a quiet board game inside.
Encourage cooler baths. Cooler baths, certainly not cold baths, can help when it’s hot outside and you’ve been out and about.
Dress in cool, loose, lightweight clothing.
Cover up with hats.
Use sunscreen or clothing with sun protection.
Schedule outside activities for early morning or evening hours, when it’s not so hot.
Never leave a child alone in a car or other closed motor vehicle. The temperatures inside a car can become much higher than the outside temperature. So again, never leave a child alone in a hot car, even for a minute. Stay safe!
Extreme heat can cause dehydration, heat cramps, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion. Call your child’s doctor immediately if he or she starts feeling faint, develops a fever or headache, has an intense thirst, hasn’t urinated for many hours, feels nauseous or starts vomiting, has trouble breathing, or has muscle aches and spasms.
Mesa Pediatric Urgent Care and Gilbert Pediatric Urgent Care
AllKids Urgent Care is a pediatric urgent care that is open every day until 10:00 pm at both our Gilbert and Mesa locations. Save time and money this summer by visiting us when your child is feeling ill or needs an x-ray. Click here to learn more about us and our services.
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