With many local schools currently holding outdoor football practice, it’s important to stay on the lookout for heat illnesses. Dr. Kip Frizzell, a pediatrician and Le Bonheur’s director of Coordination of Care, advises parents have their children drink fluids continuously throughout the day.

“These shouldn’t include juices, soft drinks or sports drinks – water is best. This is a very important rule to follow as the dangerous heat continues,” said Frizzell.

Frizzell also suggests parents and sports coaches know the symptoms of heat illness. 

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the most common types of heat injury are:

•  Heat Cramps – These are painful contractions of the muscles (most commonly leg muscles). Treatment is to stop exercise, gently message the involved muscle, and drink lots of extra fluids.

•  Heat Exhaustion – Symptoms include high temperature (up to 104°F), weakness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, and fainting. Treatment is to stop exercise, either sit or lie down, and cool down (fanning, cool towels, ice bags, move to shaded or air-conditioned area). Also, giving lots of fluids is essential. If symptoms do not stop quickly, the athlete should be taken to an emergency room right away.

• Heat Stroke – This is a life-threatening emergency caused by extremely high temperatures (often higher than 107°F). Athletes can have seizures or go into shock or coma. They should be taken to an emergency room immediately.

If you see a child exhibiting any of these symptoms, he or she needs attention immediately.

When a player feels confused, dizzy, nauseated, sleepy, or otherwise seems ill during exercise in hot, humid weather, have the child cool down and start drinking right away, says the AAP. If you do not see quick recovery, take the child to an emergency room.

During these hot summer days,  Safe Kids Mid-South warns parents and caregivers once again to take extra precautions to prevent leaving children alone in cars. This year, 19 children in the United States have already died of heat stroke in vehicles. 

A child's body temperature climbs three to five times faster than an adult's, especially in a hot car. In less than 30 minutes, the temperature inside a car can increase 35 degrees. An infant can die in as little as 15 minutes even on a mild 75-degree day.

Unfortunately, even the most conscientious parents can overlook a sleeping baby in a car. "The biggest mistake people make is to think 'It couldn't happen to me,'” says Susan Helms, director of Injury Prevention and Safe Kids at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. "Memory experts point out that if you've ever forgotten a pot left burning on the stove, you've seen how easy it is to have a dangerous memory lapse."

To prevent vehicular heat stroke deaths, Safe Kids Mid-South recommends learning the following safety tips: (You could also tape them to the dashboard.)

• Every child should be correctly restrained in the back seat.
• Put something in the back seat so you have to open the door when leaving the vehicle – a cell phone, employee badge, handbag, etc.
• Ask your babysitter or child-care provider to call you within 10 minutes if your child hasn't arrived on time.
• Focus on driving. Avoid cell phone calls and texting while driving.
• Every time you park your vehicle, open the back door to make sure no one has been left behind.
• Safe Kids also urges security personnel, parking lot attendants and the public to watch for children alone in a vehicle. Call 911 immediately if you see a child left alone in a car.