Did you know that there are illnesses related to too much heat exposure? What is heat stroke and what are the signs that someone may be suffering from this condition?
“Although heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable, a recent study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 7,233 heat-related deaths occurred in the United States from 1999 to 2009, with three states such as Arizona, California, Texas accounting for approximately 40 percent of these deaths,” says Dr. Katherine Leaming-Van Zandt, a pediatric emergency medicine specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital. According to Van Zandt, infants, children, the elderly, and people with chronic medical conditions are at the top of the list for heat-related illnesses.
Children, in contrast to adults, do not effectively adapt when exposed to high climatic heat stress purports Van Zandt, the following is a list of the reasons for this phenomenon.
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Children have a greater body surface area than adults, which causes a greater heat gain on a hot day
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Children produce more metabolic heat than adults during physical activities such as walking or running
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Children have a lower rate of sweating than in adults, which reduces the ability of children to dissipate body heat by evaporation
The following is a list of symptoms and what to do if your child complains of discomfort after spending a few hours in the sun.
1. Muscle cramps usually occur in larger muscle groups, such as the hamstrings and buttocks. With dehydration and a change in the body’s salt content, the blood flow to the muscles may be impaired. If a child develops painful muscular cramping, he/she should stop exercising and start drinking fluids. Preferably water or non-caffeinated/non-carbonated sports drinks. Encourage the child to lie down in a cool area, while massaging or stretching the affected muscles. The child’s symptoms may improve at a quicker pace.
2. Heat exhaustion is the most common form of heat-related illness. It usually occurs in children who participate in activities that lead to profuse sweat loss. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include a headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting and muscle weakness. With body temperatures as high as 104°F. If this happens to bring the child inside away from direct sunlight.
3. By towel drying or fanning the child, while placing ice bags in the area of large blood vessels such as the neck, underarms, and groin area, the core body temperature will start to go down. Also, rehydrate with non-caffeinated/non-carbonated beverages. If the child is vomiting and unable to keep fluids down seek medical care immediately.
4. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, with mortality rates as high as 50-70 percent, says Van Zandt. With severe dehydration, the normal sweating response, which is responsible for maintaining the core body temperature, can become impaired. When the body is no longer sweating, a rapid rise in the body’s temperature can progress to dangerously high levels.
The symptoms of heat stroke are very similar to those seen with heat exhaustion…however, the child will typically have central nervous dysfunction i.e., unconscious/unresponsive, seizures, delirium/confusion and core body temperatures greater than 104°F.
Concerning physical findings include an elevated temperature, hot AND dry (versus sweaty) skin, fast heart rate, low blood pressure, fast breathing, shortness of breath, excessive bleeding, altered/abnormal behavior, and seizures.
If a child exhibits any of these signs or symptoms, quickly move the child to a cooler area, remove his/her clothing, initiate evaporative cooling (spraying cool water on the child’s skin with a water bottle/fan), position an unconscious child on his/her side, and call 911 immediately! At any time, if a child is not breathing and/or does not have a pulse, start CPR immediately and call for an AED or Automated External Defibrillator.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the following for children and adolescents:
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At the beginning of a strenuous exercise program or after traveling to a warmer climate, the intensity and duration of exercise should be limited initially and then gradually increased during a period of 10 to 14 days to accomplish acclimatization to the heat.
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Before prolonged physical activity, the child should be well-hydrated (periodic drinking should be enforced even if the child does not feel thirsty (9 oz. of water or a flavored salted beverage for an adolescent weighing 60 kg/130 pounds).
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Clothing should be light-colored and lightweight and limited to one layer of absorbent material to facilitate evaporation of sweat.
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The intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should be reduced whenever relative humidity, solar radiation, and air temperature are above critical levels.
Van Zandt reminds us that, heat-induced illness is preventable. Teachers, coaches, trainers, and parents should all be aware of and understand the impact heat. Hydration, environmental conditions, acclimatization, and treatment are key elements that we all need to be concerned about and have knowledge of.
