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Safety, Safety, Safety Summer Heat Safety Tips

Summertime can be as HOT as it gets and comes with extremely high temperatures and heat waves. A heat wave refers to two or more days of dangerously high or record-breaking temperatures when compared to previous years. According to the National Weather Service, heat waves kill more people in the United States than all other weather-related disasters combined. Whether the heat is suffocatingly dry or oppressively humid, either will wreak havoc on our bodies, especially kids, and requires a preparedness mindset to enjoy the warmth of the season.

The human body normally regulate its temperature through sweating, until it is exposed to more heat than it can handle. Precautionary measures are required to avoid dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can rapidly escalate leading to delirium, organ damage, and even death.

Oftentimes, kids lack the awareness to recognize when their bodies are overheating. In addition, kid’s body temperatures are not regulated in the same way as adults. It’s important to teach kids the dangers of heat and the warning signs for heat stress. In order to protect our family and pets, let’s keep in mind a few helpful tips.

Keep Kids Cool & Hydrated

Be sure to monitor children for heat- related stress and illnesses, and consider these recommendations:

  • Schedule outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day, such as mornings and evenings.
  • Remember essential items when traveling for the day’s activities, such as chilled water in a glass or stainless steel bottle, instant cold packs, sunscreen, insect repellent, hats and shades, snacks, and a first aid kit.

Dress for the weather! Wear light colors and lightweight materials.

Drink lots of water! It’s a great way to stay as hydrated as possible.

Wear sunscreen! Limit time in the sun to avoid sunburn which makes it more difficult for your body to cool off.

Hang out in cool places! Visit public places with air-conditioning such as shopping malls, libraries and YES, ice cream stores. Many cities also have cooling stations available at no cost.

Summer Fun

Spending time at the local pool is fun on hot summer days but be mindful of the potential dangers. According to the CDC, drowning is the number 1 cause of death for children ages 1-4. Water Safety USA recommends that children under 5, weak swimmers, and non-swimmers always wear a life jacket in the pool. However, do not solely rely on floats and life preservers, children should be supervised and within arm’s reach at all times. Keep in mind learning how to swim is the primary preventative measure against drowning.

Seeking adventure in shady areas such as a local or National Park can be a great way to avoid the heat. However, remember there may be bugs, insects, and potentially poisonous snakes in these wooded areas, which could open the door for potential bites and stings. Having a preparedness mindset means being aware of preventative measures as well as possible treatments should the need arise.

Prevention

  • Apply sunscreen first, then apply insect repellant.
  • Wear appropriate clothing with lighter colors, so that insects are more visible.
  • Use a chemical barrier on your clothes and wear closed-toe shoes.
  • Use gloves when handling large rocks, sticks, or firewood.
  • Stay away from underbrush, dense shrubs, and tall weeds.

Treatment

  • For snake bites: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/snakebite.html
  • For insect bites: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-117/pdfs/2010-117.pdf
  • For spider bites: https://www.tenethealth.com/healthy-living/corporate-content/spiders-snakes-and-bugs-that-bite

Hotline: National Poison Control Center

Call: 1-800-222-1222

Text POISON to 202-677-7600

Be vigilant during the summer months to exercise extreme caution when using your cars to go about your day-to-day activities. A car’s interior can heat up extremely fast during high temperatures.

  • Be sure to have the vehicle air conditioning checked at the start of the summer.
  • Never spend time in a parked car with the windows closed
  • Never leave infants or children in a parked car even if the windows are open.
  • Double check to be sure that everyone is out of the car before leaving.
  • Preparing a car check routine or using a baby reminder car seat alarm can help ensure all children are out of the car before leaving. In 2018 and 2019, fifty-three (53) children died of Vehicular heatstroke each of those years.
Pet Precautions

When temperatures are approaching record highs, we must remember our four-legged friends who cannot express in words when they are too hot. Dogs and cats cannot cool off by sweating like humans, so they overheat more easily. As a result, pets can suffer from heat-related illnesses too.

Be aware of the signs of overheating

  • Excessive panting and drooling
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Weakness, incoordination or stumbling
  • Sudden collapse or seizures

Preventative steps:

  • High temperatures mean hot asphalt! Perform a “seven seconds test” – if the back of your hand cannot stand the heat on the asphalt for seven seconds, then it is too hot for a walk.
  • Walk your dog in the morning, before temperatures reach dangerous levels.
  • Never leave your pet outside unsupervised when the temperature is above 80°F.
  • While outside, ensure your pet has access to fresh water, shade, and shelter away from direct sunlight.
  • Never leave your pet alone in a parked car.

In the event your pet becomes overheated, act fast and begin cooling them gradually.

  • Take them indoors
  • Give them cool water to drink
  • Cover them with a lukewarm towel

If your dog’s paws show burn signs such as redness, swelling or visible blisters, consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. In the meantime, treat the affected paws using cool water.

Enjoy the Summertime Safely

Credits:

Created with images by Quality Stock Arts - "summer hot weather season high temperature thermometer with city view." • ibreakstock - "Heat wave word cloud" • Pornsak - "Concept of childhood and drinking water on a hot day." • nuzza11 - "Fashionable children " • 977_rex_977 - "little girl drinks tap water" • lilibella - "I'm really enjoying my vacation" • WavebreakmediaMicro - "Kids using laptop in library" • dsheremeta - "Happy family with two kids having fun in the swimming pool. Summer vacation concept" • Jacob Lund - "Kids exploring in forest with a magnifying glass" • Artem Varnitsin - "Smiling baby boy looking at his mother while sitting fastened in a car seat" • yolya_ilyasova - "woman is walking with her dog. Funny spaniel mutt in summer city street" • Christine Bird - "A dog about to go for a walk" • NDABCREATIVITY - "Happy family having fun time on picnic"