Warm weather child health & safety tips

Memories are made of this: long, hot summers and the fun times families share while beating the heat. But as the mercury soars, so, unfortunately, does the potential for little ones to suffer injuries or ill-health while hard at play. To help make sure you have all bases covered when it comes to caring for your littlies this summer, we’ve compiled a guide to things to look out for.

Water wise

Whether at the pool or on the beach water safety is always a parent’s number-one priority. When swimming in pools, Childsafety Australia reminds parents to remember the following important points:

❋ Keep pool gates locked at all times and check the lock and fence regularly.
❋ Always supervise children closely when they’re in and around the pool.
❋ Use plastic utensils near pools to avoid broken glass, which is very hard to see in a pool.

Swimming at the beach poses different risks. Childsafety recommends families always swim at places patrolled by lifesavers or lifeguards, and swim between the flags. Ask a lifeguard if you’re unsure of the surf conditions and don’t let kids swim directly after eating. Don’t take your eyes off your child at the beach for even a second…

In the sun

Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, and nearly all skin cancers are caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, according to Cancer Council Australia.

To be sun-smart, families should:
❋ Plan to go outdoors before 11am or after 3pm in daylight saving time (before 10am and after 2pm during the rest of the year).
❋ When outdoors, stay in the shade. If there’s no shade, bring your own, such as a big umbrella.
❋ Select clothes for you and the kids that offer sun protection. For example, knee-length shorts and loose-fitting tops with sleeves made from fabric that doesn’t let light through.
❋ When swimming, wear rash vests and shorts with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). A UPF of
50+ is best.
❋ Hats should always be worn whenever outside.
❋ Sunglasses are more than a fashion accessory for children – they protect young eyes from UV radiation damage.

Sunscreen

Stephen van Gerwen from St John’s Ambulance says prevention is better than cure when it comes to sunburn.

While it does not offer 100 per cent protection, sunscreen still has an important role to play. For optimum protection, use broad spectrum SPF30+ water resistant cream. Apply 20 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours.

“Some sunscreens are designed specifically for children,” says Stephen. “But remember to reapply them regularly for best coverage.”

Naturopath Amanda Haberecht believes staying out of the sun, and wearing hats, sunglasses and protective clothing should be relied on over sunscreen alone.

“The skin is an organ and will readily absorb the chemicals in sunscreen,” she says. She recommends using zinc-oxide based sunblock creams that act as a barrier rather than chemical sunscreens.

Bites and stings

Warmer weather is when spiders, snakes, bluebottles and other nasties come out to play, says St John’s Ambulance national training manager Stephen van Gerwen. And this means there is more likelihood of being bitten or stung.

“Also, kids are more likely to be playing outdoors when the weather is warm,” Stephen says. “Keep lawns mowed, and if you have seen spider or insect nests, try to have them removed.”

To help prevent bites and stings, Stephen also suggests children wear shoes when playing in the backyard.

Keep a first-aid book on hand for easy referral in the case of bites or stings, or call 131 126 for quick advice. If in doubt, call 000.

“It’s much better that an ambulance comes to a false alarm than not calling till it’s too late,” Stephen says.

Refresh your first-aid skills, too. “We have Caring for Kids courses that give parents a lot of fundamentals.”

Insect repellents

If using chemical repellents, Stephen advises opting for a roll-on one to avoid inadvertently spraying it in a child’s face.

“If a child comes out in a rash, stop using it and see your doctor,” he says.

Naturopath Amanda Haberecht says natural insect repellents are available, although their effectiveness varies. But there are other natural options: “Children who are deficient in vitamins B5 or B6 are more likely to get bitten by mozzies, so you could supplement kids prone to bites with a kids multivitamin. Using garlic in their food will also reduce the amount a child is bitten by insects.”

To treat bites and stings, Stephen recommends sprays that contain a local anaesthetic to reduce irritation. Amanda says dabbing tea tree oil or lavender oil onto the bite will take the sting away.

Drink up

Children often forget to ask for water, GP Dr Ginni Mansberg says. “Make sure you have water with you at all times, and offer it frequently,” she says. And forget about soft drinks, which are loaded with sugar, flavourings, colourings and other additives. “Only give soft drinks to children on special occasions.”

Deborah Nemeth, Karitane’s director of clinical services, says breastfed babies will get all the fluid they need from extra breastfeeds, rather than water. However formula-fed babies may need some cooled, boiled water.

“Preschoolers might like to have a drink of water near the bed so they can have a drink if they wake overnight,” suggests Deborah.

Signs of dehydration

❋ Dry, sticky mouth
❋ Sleepiness or tiredness, or a child less active than usual
❋ Thirst
❋ Decreased urine output (fewer than six wet nappies a day for infants, and eight hours or more without urination for older children)
❋ Few or no tears when crying
❋ Muscle weakness
❋ Headache, dizziness, lightheadedness.

Skin things

Karitane’s Deborah Nemeth says some babies develop a red rash or small blisters during hot weather. Known as “prickly heat” or “heat rash”, it’s common on areas of the body that don’t get much exposure to air.

“Frequent baths, changing moist clothes, and ensuring all skin folds are carefully dried after bathing can help,” Deborah says.

Not overdressing your children in hot weather could also help prevent heat rash, advises Dr Ginni Mansberg. “Use cotton clothing and if your child gets a heat rash, relax, it won’t harm them,” she says. “Put the child in an air-conditioned room and give them a cool bath.” If the rash doesn’t go in three days, Ginni says to see your GP.

Food safety

PP’s dietitian Kate Di Prima advises parents to be particularly careful transporting and storing milk-based products and meats in the summer months. “These foods need to be in an insulated bag unless in a fridge,” Kate says.

If you’re thinking about sending your child off to daycare with meat or milk-based food on a hot day, make sure you put an ice brick in with them or a decent-sized frozen drink bottle in a chiller pack.
If picnic foods have been in the hot summer sun for an hour or more, resist taking the leftovers home.
When it comes to salad, fruit and vegies in warmer weather, Kate advises washing them all well before they go into the lunchbox. “This will limit bacteria on the product, because between 4°C and 60°C bacteria multiplies really quickly,” she says.

Grocery know-how

Make your grocery stop the last one on your to-do list before heading home. Groceries might be cooler kept on the back seat of your car than in the boot. Better yet, take a cooler bag with ice-bricks in it to keep perishables cool between the supermarket and your kitchen.

Sleeping well

If you are having trouble with your little one’s day sleep, Karitane’s Deborah Nemeth suggests taking them to an air-conditioned environment. “A young child will often fall asleep in a pram once they are in a cooler environment,” she says. If you have air-conditioning at home, just remember to check it doesn’t get too cold.

Other ways to cool the house down during the day include closing blinds and curtains, switching on fans, and even putting a wet piece of fabric in front of the fan to help cool the air.

“Always be mindful of safety when using an appliance in your child’s room,” Deborah adds. Also, check that your child’s room is not a heat trap. Try walking through the house to locate the coolest spot, then move the cot as close as possible (and convenient) to that location, she says. “This might help them sleep more peacefully overnight.”

“Synthetic fibres can result in a child feeling sweaty and restless, so choose natural fibres for bedding and nightwear,” Deborah says. “On a hot day or night, they may only need a nappy and singlet.”

In a confined environment, such as a pram or bassinette, a baby’s own body heat will also raise the temperature.

If giving a cool bath, it needs to be slightly warm so it’s comfortable. Sponging down a hot baby with a wet cloth during the night is also helpful.

Kids in cars

Never leave children alone in a car, regardless of the weather, says Jeannine Grey, project coordinator, child road safety, Kidsafe NSW.

“It’s not only about being locked in the car and getting hot,” she says. “You don’t leave them in there for a second because of the unpredictable nature of the environment.”

There are plenty of reasons not to leave little people alone in a car.

“In summer, people say they can leave the windows down, but tests have been done showing it doesn’t make much difference,” Jeannine says. “The temperature of the cabin goes up really quickly and leaving the window down doesn’t have a huge impact. On a typical 30°C summer’s day in Australia the inside temperature of a car can get up to 70°C, and 75 per cent of that temperature increase occurs within the first five minutes, and 90 per cent within 15 minutes. The size of the car makes no difference.”
Young children are more sensitive to heat because their body temperature rises much faster than that of an adult. Consequently they are at greater risk of heat stroke.
“Also, a child could get caught in straps if distressed,” Jeannine adds.

When travelling in summer, provide plenty of water and fluids regularly, and dress your kids in lightweight fabrics. Be aware that sunburn can happen through car windows, so invest in window shades to protect your bub’s delicate skin.