Importance of Heat Protection for Children

Sun exposure and fresh air is great for everyone. It provides the Vitamin D our body needs to help absorb calcium, which leads to better and stronger bones! However, it does not take long for our bodies to absorb the recommended amount of Vitamin D. Overexposure to the sun without proper protection can lead to burning and heat exhaustion. 

It is so important to provide our children with proper heat protection. Taking proper precautions can also greatly help reduce the risk of skin cancer later on in life. 

When your child is out in the heat and sun there are a couple things you need to worry about: sunburn, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. 

During summer months at AOFC, we offer to use sunscreen on all of our children to help prevent sunburn during outside play times. According to Dr. Sharon Orrange, a professor at USC, sunburns can occur in less than 15 minutes of sun exposure. The fairer the child's skin the more likely they are to burn quickly due to the lower amount of melanin in their skin. Sunburn can happen quickly so we want to take all proper precautions to keep our little friends safe and comfortable! 

The school provides Coppertone Babies SPF50 sunscreen for all children with a signed permission waiver. 

The next thing we need to be aware of with our children being outdoors in the summer is heat exhaustion/stroke. Heat exhaustion is when a child's body begins to overheat. If not treated immediately and properly it can lead to a heat stroke. The signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion are:

·         Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat

·         Heavy sweating

·         Faintness

·         Dizziness

·         Fatigue

·         Weak, rapid pulse

·         Low blood pressure upon standing

·         Muscle cramps

·         Nausea

·         Headache

According to the Mayo Clinic, If you think your child is  experiencing heat exhaustion:

·         Stop all activity and rest

·         Move to a cooler place

·         Drink cool water or a drink with electrolytes in it

If the symptoms worsen, you should see medical attention immediately. 

The last thing we try to focus on preventing is dehydration. A child can become dehydrated so quickly that we will always take our Brita filter outside to the playgrounds with us during the summer months so the children can have a drink of water any time they are out playing. All classrooms will also have a time to sit down and have another drink of water once they return to their classrooms. This will give their little bodies some time to cool down. 

So go enjoy the sunshine with your children but be safe and practice proper heat protection!

If you would like more information about our program, please click here.