Buffalo, NY (WBEN) As temperatures flirt with 90 and heat indices near 110, an area physician is advising parents, coaches and counselors to keep a closer eyes on kids at play, camp and practice.
" It is very important that they take frequent breaks, taking breaks for water, electrolytes," says Dr. Shelby Hall of Golisano Children's Hospital. She says other things will be important. "It is important to have them have access to a cool area, so a shaded environment. If you're outside, of course, if they have access to AC, if they're getting overheated, will definitely help. As far as things that they can be wearing, they should be wearing light clothes, light colors on, if possible, moisture wicking, so those really breathable fabrics that help the sweat kind of dissipate off of them."
When it comes to rehydrating in this heat, which is better, water or electrolytes? "Water works most of the time. If you are feeling very symptomatic, very lightheaded, dizzy, feeling like you're just not able to keep yourself upright, electrolytes can help kind of bridge that gap, so they help replenish the water, plus all of the salts that you're losing when you're sweating. So, I wouldn't say that they're mandatory, but they're definitely helpful in the super hot weather," explains Hall.
Hall says it's crucial for adults to watch out for signs of heat exhaustion, or worse, heat stroke. "Heat exhaustion is going to look like things like a little bit confused, a little bit more tired, or fatigued than they normally would be doing those activities, dizzy, lightheaded," says Hall. "Heat stroke is progressing to true altered mental status, so they are not aware of where they are or what they're doing, passing out and unable to be aroused, profuse sweating, high fevers, 103 and above. That's when we're really starting to worry about true heat stroke, which is a medical emergency."
She says parents should bring kids in for a break, even if they don't want to."A lot of kids these ages don't want to stop what they're doing, so keeping an eye on them, watching how they're keeping up, how they're looking, how they're feeling, having them step off for a quick break if they can rehydrate can get them back out to doing what they want to do without having to sideline them for the rest of the day or longer," adds Hall.
Taking breaks is key, says doctor
Taking breaks is key, says doctor
