Protect your kid from the heatwave

Summer vacations are one of the best days for a school-going kid. From summer camps to spending most of their with their family and friends, they enjoy it the most. But one thing that kids enjoy the most is spending time outside. With the rising temperatures, parents find it difficult to let their children spend so much time under the scorching sun. If you’re wondering how you can help your kid make the most of summer vacations without compromising on going out, you have to know the summer safety tips for outdoor activities.

Health Shots got in touch with Dr Paula Goel, Paediatrician and Adolescent Specialist at Fayth Clinic, Mumbai, to know how parents can protect their children from the heat.

Summer safety tips for outdoor activities

Is it difficult for you to contain your child and keep them indoors? With so much energy and time on their hands, all kids want to enjoy is some outdoor activities. And having them sit at home is not really a solution. Dr Goel says children have a lot of energy which is expended in school activities, however, if they are forced to just sit at home in the summer vacations, they tend to get irritable and cranky.

In fact, kids tend to turn their attention to gadgets if not engaged in any physical activity. This can also be a dreadful thing for a parent. Playing outside in the hot sun may lead to sunstroke, dehydration, altered sensorium, fatigue and even collapse, all of which are very dangerous. So, here are a few tips to keep your child safe if they like outdoor activities, suggested by the expert:

• Try to do outdoor activities either early morning or evening when it’s not very hot.
• Avoid doing any outdoor activities in the afternoon from 11.45 am to 4.30 pm.
• Keep your child adequately hydrated during the day. You can take nimbu paani, chaas, coconut water and of course, drinking water.
• Avoid cold drinks, aerated drinks, tetra packed juices as they are all packed with sugar and may lead to obesity.
• Carry drinking water when you are going out during the day. Make it a habit to carry water with you always.
• Avoid drinking water from the roadside or taking drinks like juices or Nimbu Paani from roadside stalls.
• Apply adequate sunscreen 15 minutes before you leave the house. Apply sunscreen not only on the face but also on the neck, hands and other exposed parts of the body.
• Make them wear a hat or cover the head with a cotton scarf, as well as dark glasses to cut out glare.
• If you are travelling, travel light with minimum baggage as head tends to sap energy.
• Instead, you can put them to various indoor activities like drawing, singing, dancing, pottery etc.
• You may organise small lunches at home with indoor games to keep children occupied. Doing such activities once a week keep them motivated throughout the week.
• This time can be utilised effectively to bond with your child. Encourage them to do small household chores and help you out.
• Early mornings and evenings can be spent on outdoor activities like swimming, jogging, cycling or playing any field sport.
• Avoid high calorie meals as they are difficult to digest. Take high fibre low caloric meals.
• Wear clothes which are light cotton and absorb perspiration well. Avoid synthetic clothes which do not allow ventilation and causes the body temperature to rise more.
• Wear clothes which are light coloured as it reflects the heat instead of dark coloured clothes which absorb heat.
• It is essential that you cool your body, hence take a bath at least 2 times a day.
• Bathing helps decrease the core body temperature and prevents sunstroke.

Summer heat can be distressing to all hence it is imperative to take a few precautionary measures to protect yourself from summer heat, recommends the expert.