Children Can Become Easily
Dehydrated.
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Is Your Child Getting Enough Water This Summer ? Children have different metabolisms than adults. They don't sweat as much, but can heat up faster. Many children today do not drink enough water to start with. Put that with getting too heated and you have trouble. If your child is out playing hard, or riding his/her bike or skateboard, in hot humid weather take note. This kind of weather puts them at a higher risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Both of these are serious problems, with heat stroke being worse and there is much you can do to avoid this happening. Dehydration First address any possible dehydration. I suggest that a child at normal times drink one quart of water for every 50 pounds of weight. If they are playing out in hot, or humid weather, they need to drink more water. Back in 1982 one committee on sports medicine recommended thorough hydration for exercising children, suggesting at least 4.5 ounces of water every half hour for each 18 pounds of body weight during physical activity. This could mean the child needs to drink twice the amount of water that he/she should be drinking at normal times for optimal health. This is easy for parents to overlook and children cannot usually be depended on to make sure that they get enough. Your best bet is to actually set containers of water out. Whether individual bottles for each child or a dispenser or pitcher. Then the adult in charge needs to keep a tally of the water intake. Wearing A Hat In addition,you may want to send them out to play with a hat. This will save them from some bad sunburns as well as shade their heads so that they do not get as hot. Change Wet Garments. If garments become soaked from sweat, it would be appropriate to change to dry ones. And it is best to dress them in light, absorbent clothing. Parents and caretakers, please note the above suggestions and make sure that your child gets the water and protection he/she needs to avoid overheating. This is often overlooked until the child has heat exhaustion or stroke. It is easy to avoid if you plan ahead to make sure your little one is hydrated. -------------------------------------------------------------- Copywrite 2002 Article written by Jeannie Crabtree C.Ac. Jeannie publishes Healthy Living newsletter. She shares Nutrition tips and Research.You can subscribe to Healthy Living by going to http://www.health-doc.com Article may be reprinted in it's entirety in a newsletter or on a website if the article is not changed and the resource box is intact. Please let me know that it was published. Mailto:jeannie@health-doc.com |