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Children in the midday heat: play or take risks? Experts warn!
Allowing children to play outside in extreme heat poses dangers. Experts recommend moving activities to cooler hours.
Children in the midday heat: play or take risks? Experts warn!
When the sun shines and temperatures rise, children head outside to play and enjoy the fresh air. But especially on hot summer days, there is an important discussion about the safety of the youngest in the so-called “midday heat”. While children love the sun, adults need to be aware of the dangers of overheating. Radiowaf reports that the heat is often intense at this time of day, due to the steep sun. What is surprising, however, is that, according to the German Weather Service (DWD), the highest temperatures are not always measured at midday, as the values are recorded in the shade and the evenings can often seem warmer, but with less solar radiation.
In the heat, children tend to sweat less than adults, limiting their ability to dissipate heat. This makes them more susceptible to heat-related ailments such as heat cramps, exhaustion or even heat stroke. Therefore, experts recommend shifting children's activities to the cooler morning hours and letting them play in a shaded area, always with enough fluids, sun protection and suitable headgear.
The dangers of heat
The heat not only has an impact on leisure activities, but also on children's health. How UNICEF emphasizes, children are particularly at risk from extreme heat and intense sunlight. This summer, temperatures over 40 degrees have already been recorded in countries such as Turkey and Italy, which once again underlines the importance of heat protection for the little ones. According to the UNICEF report, the likelihood of stillbirths and premature births also increases with each increase in temperature and this highlights how important it is to protect children from the sun.
Infants in particular are at high risk of overheating because they produce less sweat, which leads to overheating more quickly. Your skin is also particularly sensitive and needs additional UV protection. When sunburn or sting occurs, symptoms such as redness and headaches may occur - conditions that require urgent treatment.
Heat Coping Tips
What can parents do to best protect their children? klima-mensch-gesundheit.de has some valuable tips in store: First of all, parents should regularly take the children to shady places. It is also extremely important that the little ones drink enough, as they often cannot monitor their fluid intake themselves. A careful eye on the children and their needs is of great importance here.
Experts recommend that adults ensure that children are adequately protected when playing in nature. After all, if you have the right touch, even the hottest days can become carefree fun!