As summer arrives, nurses are concern with their family’s health. Most especially when their children can play outdoors and do fun summer activities. Once it becomes nice weather, however, many children complain of headaches and lethargy after being outside for long periods, and this can often be caused by mild dehydration.
The following are tips that will help you recognize risks and symptoms of dehydration, and ideas to prevent dehydration so that you can have a summer of fun, not headaches. This information also applies to adults.
Children at risk of dehydration are children who:
– Have not been outside regularly.
– Stay outdoors for long periods without breaks.
– Are sensitive to heat.
– Are in sports that require continual running or biking more than 20 minutes.
– Are overweight or obese.
– Rarely exercise.
– Wear heavy clothing in the heat
If the first signs of dehydration surface, it will be good to cure them, in that case you will prevent it from being severe. Ensuring your families’ health is the most important thing to secure. Here are the mild dehydration symptoms to look for:
– Mild headaches
– Irritability
– Cramps
– Lethargy
– Dizziness
– Thirst
If your child seems dehydrated you need to stop the activity immediately, take them to a cool environment. Make sure that you give fluids to them to replace the lost liquids in his body and seek medication if your child seems confused, or looks like they may lose consciousness.
Tips for preventing dehydration:
1. Have children wear light-colored and light weight clothing.
2. Keep kids hydrated before playing outdoors and prior to sporting events.
3. If your child is sensitive to outdoor heat, try activities early in the morning and later in the afternoon. As they increase tolerance to activity and heat, introduce mid-afternoon outdoor play in shady areas first. Check out summer safety tips online.
4. Teach your child the symptoms of dehydration so they can recognize the onset, and give them permission to tell the coach or teacher when they feel the symptoms coming on.
5. Trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to take kids out of the activity if you sense they are getting dehydrated.
6. Require children to take drink breaks consistently—even if they aren’t thirsty.
7. Avoid pop and other high-sugar drinks, but feel free to include lightly sweetened drinks that appeal to your child.
8. Be aware that large quantities of fruit juice all at once may cause cramping. If you plan on giving your child juice, you may want to dilute it with half water.
9. During sport events, give either water or a low-calorie electrolyte-replacement drink for activities lasting less than 60 minutes.
10. Consider giving children around half of their fluids from a carbohydrate and electrolyte-replacement drink if they exercise outdoors from one to three hour.
Nurses’ health and their families should be the first priority. This summer, make sure to watch out for dehydration signs and symptoms to prevent it immediately.