 |
|||
 |
|||
Healthy
|
|||
Drink Water--It's COOL!
During the sticky, uncomfortable "dog days" of summer, children can still participate in outdoor activities. When it is steamy outside, children need help to "keep their cool!" Information about the dangers that hot weather poses to children can help you help them safely enjoy the summer.
Children are more susceptible to heat-related injuries and illnesses than adults for several reasons. Small children have more surface area on their bodies compared to their weight so they quickly absorb heat in hot weather (likewise, they quickly lose heat in cold weather). Children produce only about 40 percent as much perspiration as adults, and perspiring (sweating) is an important way the body cools itself. The efficiency of sweat evaporation, or the cooling process, is greatly affected by humidity, so heat-related injury is more likely when the humidity is high. Also, children's bodies adjust to hot conditions slowly.
HEAT-RELATED INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
Some heat-related injuries and illnesses to watch for are sunburn, burns from hot surfaces, dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. The last three conditions--dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke--can be directly affected by the amount of fluid a child drinks, so it is important to provide children with sufficient water and other fluids.
- Dehydration occurs when children lose more fluid than they take in. Our bodies lose fluid each day through breathing, perspiration, and urination, and this water must be replaced continuously. During hot weather or when exercising, we perspire more and lose more fluid, so it is important to replace this by drinking extra water. Watch for early warning signals of dehydration--clumsiness, stumbling, and excessive sweating--and provide water or other fluids.
- Heat exhaustion occurs when children get hot and lose too much fluid through sweating. Signs of heat exhaustion may include moist skin (sweating), dizziness, weakness, nausea, or muscle cramps. A child with heat exhaustion may even faint. If a child has these symptoms, move him to a cool place such as an air-conditioned building or vehicle. If he is awake, you may give sips of cool water or juice while he rests.
- If the child does not feel better in a few minutes, or if his temperature goes up, call for emergency help. The child may be suffering from heat stroke. Heat stroke must be treated immediately because the child's body temperature can rise to dangerous levels. Signs of heat stroke include hot, red and dry skin with no sweating to cool the body and a rapid heart beat. The child may have a headache, seem confused, faint, or have convulsions or seizures. If a child has these symptoms, call for emergency help while you cool the child. Move the child to a cool place, and place cloths with cool water on his head and body. If the child is awake, provide sips of cool water or juice.
Be safe, not sorry, by preventing heat conditions. Encourage children to drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after outdoor play. Cold water is the best and most economical fluid to drink to keep a person hydrated. Most children need six to eight cups of liquid each day to replace the water their bodies lose normally. On hot, humid days children who are very active outdoors will need even more water. Encourage them to drink more than they think they need.
Many sports drinks include minerals such as sodium and potassium. These minerals are easily obtained from food, so it is not necessary to provide such drinks for children. If sports drinks are offered, you may dilute them by 50 percent with water. Children can still benefit from the salts and other nutrients with "half a dose," and the most important thing to take in is the extra water.
Drinks containing caffeine can cause the body to lose fluids and may not be considered thirst quenchers. Pure fruit juices (100 percent) are nutritious but contain natural sugar, often as much sugar as fruit-flavored drinks or sodas. Drinks with sugar are not as thirst quenching as water, and they can interfere with a child's appetite for nutritious foods at meal or snack time. Juice may be diluted with water, club soda or crushed ice to reduce the sugar and add fluid.
COOL WATER IN COOL CONTAINERS
Some children do not like to drink water or may not want to stop playing their games to take a water break. Creativity can help change their minds. Water coolers with spouts, canteens, water bottles, and bottles with squirt caps can make drinking more fun! Make sure the containers are easy to clean and sanitize.
Use the water breaks to remind children that drinking from the same cups or containers can spread germs. Disposable cups may be an alternative when children are away from washing facilities. Reuse cups by including names or pictures on cups so children can recognize their own to reuse. Show children where to put their cups so the cups do not touch each other and spread germs.
The bottom line is that WATER IS COOL!
Show children what happens when a living thing loses water.
Place a stalk of fresh celery, with leaves, in an empty cup. See what happens overnight. (The celery will get limp and droopy because it loses water by evaporation.)
The next day, add water to the glass. In a short time the celery stalk will straighten back up. (The celery will absorb, or take in the water to replace what was lost.) Tell children to drink plenty of water so they will not droop in the summer heat!
THIRST QUENCHERS
Try some of the following "kid pleasers" to have fun while making sure the children in your care get plenty of fluids to avoid the dangers of hot weather.
Frozen Slush: Pour 1 cup pure fruit juice and 1/4 cup water into a plastic container and place in the freezer for two hours. Remove from the freezer and stir with a spoon. Return to the freezer for 30 minutes. Remove, stir again. Pour into containers and serve with a spoon. (Two servings)
Fruit Ticklers: Mix 1 cup pure fruit juice with 1/4 cup carbonated water. (Two servings)
Frozen Fruit Slush: Whirl frozen fruit such as strawberries, blueberries, or peaches, in a blender with a little juice. A banana or yogurt can add extra nutrients. Pour into cups and serve with a spoon.
Go Cones: Spoon pure fruit juice concentrate over crushed ice.
By Burgin Fowlkes, RD, LD, Senior Nutrition Educator, Health Program & Communications, Jefferson County AL Dept. of Health
|
Healthy Childcare® Home Page | Library | Search | Questions & Answers | Links
I Am Amazing | Hip On Health | Health & Safety Resource Guide | Order Form
Product Spotlight | Free Issue | Publisher's Letter | Contact Us | Author Guidelines HEALTHY CHILD PUBLICATIONS Last Revised: |
||