How to protect your child from sunburn, heat stroke and sunstroke
In summer, children and young people are drawn to the outdoors when the weather is nice. Exercise outdoors is fun and healthy. But overexerting yourself in sports at high temperatures can be detrimental to your health - and that goes for children and teens, too. In this article, you'll find tips on how to protect yourself and your child from sun exposure and heat.
Exercise and sports activities are healthy and good for promoting and developing fitness and motor skills in children and adolescents - even in summer. If it is hot outside, the body reacts with increased sweating. This is considered a healthy protective measure of the body against overheating.
Children before puberty, however, sweat much less than adults. Also, the young body needs much longer to get used to high temperatures. Parents, coaches and trainers should therefore pay attention to a sensible and moderate sports workload to prevent overheating and overexertion and also constantly remind children to take breaks for drinking and rest. Especially in endurance sports, there is otherwise a risk of dehydration, muscle cramps, heat stroke or circulation problems.
If your child follows a few rules, however, sporting activities are harmless for healthy people even in summer temperatures.
The boundaries between healthy exhaustion after sports activities and the onset of overexertion are fluid. That's why it's important to pay attention to symptoms of exhaustion. This rule applies in principle always, but in the heat especially.
Symptoms of overexertion in heat can be:
In an emergency, heat stroke can occur. Warning signs can be:
Caution: In this case, you should act immediately and call emergency medical services. There may be a complete breakdown of cardiovascular function. Without medical help, there is an acute danger to life!
If you suspect heatstroke, you should immediately alert the emergency doctor.
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