Sunny weather and summer holidays are just around the corner. So it’s more important than ever to keep babies, toddlers and children hydrated. Children can get easily distracted running around without remembering to stop and drink. Have you noticed if your child becomes more irritable, tired, naughty or just not acting themselves in the heat?

Dehydration

Could it be dehydration? Your child might not be able to explain how they are feeling so keep a check on their symptoms and look out for signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion.

Are they?:

• Feeling thirsty
• Dark yellow and strong smelling pee
• Feeling dizzy, lightheaded
• Feeling tired or irritable
• Dry mouth, lips and eyes
• Peeing little, and fewer than 4 times a day or nappies drier than usual

If your child shows any of these symptoms of dehydration here are some tips to quench their thirst and help keep them safe:

• Give regular small sips and allow them to gradually drink more if they can.
• You can use a spoon or medicine syringe to make it easier for your child to swallow the fluids.
• Remember, breastfed babies will want more feeds than usual and this includes night feeds too.
• Did you know that milk is also one of the best choices for keeping hydrated?
• Offer ice-lollies, or even allow juice, when you might ordinarily say no.
• Fresh fruit and salad also counts towards water intake.
• At night time, it’s a good idea to always leave a sippy cup of water next to the bed.
• Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm.

Heat Exhaustion Vs Heat Stroke

Before heat stroke symptoms appear, kids often show signs and symptoms of milder heat illnesses such as heat cramps and heat exhaustion. They are busy bees so running around or playing in the heat means they can loose excessive fluids and salt from sweating.

Whereas, heat stroke is a severe type of heat illness that occurs when a child’s body creates more heat than it can release. This results in a rapid increase in core body temperature, leading to brain damage or death if not promptly treated.

Heat exhaustion? Look for:

• Cramps in the arms, legs or stomach
• A high temperature
• Excessive sweating and skin becoming pale and clammy
• Fast breathing or heartbeat
• Weakness
• Feeling sick or being sick.

If your child has heat exhaustion, follow these 4 steps:

1. Move them to a cool place.
2. Remove all unnecessary clothing like a jacket or socks.
3. Get them to drink a sports or rehydration drink, or cool water.
4. Cool their skin – spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs, wrapped in a cloth and put under the armpits or on the neck are good too.

Stay with them until they’re better.

They should start to cool down and feel better within 30 minutes.

If dehydration becomes a serious issue and turns quickly from heat exhaustion to heat stroke get medical help immediately.  That’s when nausea, high temperature and headache don’t resolve with rehydration within 30 minutes. A child will appear flushed and red, and hot to touch, but remain dry ie. doesn’t have sweat or tears and can be unconscious and floppy. They are at risk of a seizure so should be seen straight away. Call 999.

Put the child in the recovery position if they lose consciousness while you’re waiting for help.

Stay safe everyone in the sun, especially when abroad and above all, keep cool and hydrated.