Nortons Children’s Hospital shares tips to keep children safe during extreme heat

Bowling Green, KY.- As you spend time outdoors, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind to beat the summer heat and stay safe. Because of children’s size, they have more trouble regulating body heat, so it is important to know the signs of when they may be experiencing heat exhaustion.

During the hottest part of the day, doctors recommend being indoors, staying hydrated, and wearing light-colored and loose clothing.

Nurse Practitioner at Nortons Children’s Hospital, Ashley Parrigin, says, “They do rely on adults to help keep them safe. They don’t always recognize the signs of dehydration or when they need to drink more fluids or take off clothing to cool down, so as adults, caregivers, and parents, it’s our job to make sure we know the things we can do to help protect them and keep them safe.”

Some common signs of heat illness to look for in children are nausea, raised heart rate, heavy breathing, dehydration, and fatigue.