Children are among those vulnerable to developing heat-related illnesses especially with increasing temperatures and Paediatrician Dr. Sonia Watts says several precautions are necessary.
“Among the populations that suffer more from heat-related illnesses, we consider the paediatric population to be about 50 per cent of that.
“Among this paediatric population we can find that most heat-related illnesses occur among the exercising adolescents and also among children that are left alone in vehicles or in environments with excessive heat,” Dr. Watts told the News Room during a recent interview at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
According to Dr. Watts, increasing temperatures, such as those recorded recently, can lead to an increase in heat-related illnesses be it rashes, exhaustion or otherwise. And children may experience increased thirst and dizziness.
So to help protect children, she advised parents to dress children in loose-fitting clothes and increase their fluid intake. She also said parents, teachers or other guardians could limit their exposure to direct sunlight.
But that direct exposure is not the only cause for concern.
Dr. Watts said children can suffer from heat exhaustion in “very humid environments.” It is for this reason it is crucial to keep them in cool, well-ventilated environments such as classrooms or rooms at home.
The Ministry of Education recently issued a memorandum in response to the increasing temperatures experienced across the country.
According to that memorandum, children’s and teachers’ can wear clothes that ensure they are more comfortable. Children can also be given additional breaks and encouraged to drink more fluids.
Teachers were also encouraged to familiarise themselves with signs of heat illnesses including headaches, dizziness and confusion, loss of appetite, excessive sweating, clammy skin, high temperatures and thirst.
