HMC reminds parents and caregivers to ensure children are not exposed to excessive heat and humidity during the summer months

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) encourages parents and caregivers to make sure children are not exposed to high heat and humidity during the extended summer break, when schools are closed and kids are at home. This will protect them from heat-related illnesses, which are more common in the summer. 

HMC experts advise parents who choose to engage in any outside activities with their children to use caution and avoid subjecting them to extreme heat or humidity.

Heat stress and heat-related disorders are commonly characterized by raised body temperature, chilly or clammy skin, irritation, increased thirst or sweating, headache, and faint, dizzy, or weak feelings. These symptoms can progress to more serious heat exhaustion and stroke if ignored or not detected.

These tried-and-true "SMART" methods are what Dr. Rafael Consunji, Director of Hamad Trauma Center’s Hamad Injury Protection Program (HIPP) suggests to do to lower your child's risk of heat-related illness: 

- Keep an eye on kids when they play outside so that any symptoms of heat-related illnesses can be recognized and treated. 

- Use any weather app to keep an eye on local heat and humidity forecasts to find out if there are any heat advisories due to extremely high or low temperatures. 

- Steer clear of unshadowed play places and materials like concrete, asphalt, and dark-colored, shiny surfaces that both absorb and reflect heat.

- Take regular breaks every half an hour to let the kids play in the shade or inside with air conditioning, and every fifteen minutes to sip on cool drinks. If needed, change their clothes, give them a cool towel wipe, and help them dry off from sweating. Make it a game with the kids and use a phone alarm that plays upbeat music or sounds to make sure they look forward to these breaks. 

- To minimize risky heat exposure, schedule outdoor playtime before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m.