Are you worried about the dangers to your children’s health during the summer? A memo for parents compiled by Altamedica doctors will help you prepare for a safe summer

Heat stroke: how to recognize and provide first aid?

Probably, everyone could agree that we look forward to summer the most because of the warmth and smiles of the sun. However, at high ambient temperature and humidity, when the body is unable to evaporate heat by sweating, there is a risk of overheating. This condition is especially dangerous for babies and children under 4 years old. Since children’s cooling mechanisms are less developed, they need more time to cool down. In addition, due to low body mass, children can lose water, vitamins and minerals very quickly, which can cause dehydration and damage vital organs, says Milda Kaminskienė, a family doctor at Altamedica.

The risk of overheating increases with prolonged exposure to the sun, especially without a head covering, or in an unventilated room. One of the most common mistakes parents make is covering the stroller with a cloth to protect the baby from direct sunlight. When the sun heats up, a covered stroller can turn into a greenhouse, stuffy and lacking in fresh air. Therefore, in the warm season, it is important to choose an air-wired stroller canopy and a sun umbrella instead of fabric. Family doctor Milda notes that a car can also become a danger, so a child should not be left in it, even for a short time. In a parked car, the biggest temperature jump is observed in the first five minutes, and the temperature in it can be as much as 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature.

Since overheating can easily be mistaken for a cold, it is important for parents to remain vigilant. Although the initial symptoms (elevated temperature, headache, weakness and lethargy) are indeed reminiscent of a cold, heatstroke is also characterized by nausea, vomiting, hot, dry, red skin, increased heart rate. If you notice these symptoms, you should take the child to the shade as soon as possible and lay him down so that his legs are higher than his head, take off his outer clothes, apply cold compresses to the neck, armpits and groin, and give him water to drink. Failure to recognize the symptoms of overheating can disrupt the body’s temperature regulation mechanism and lead to life-threatening heat stroke. If the condition does not improve or worsens, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Redness of the skin is the first sign of sunburn: how to sunbathe safely?

Although the sun is the main source of vitamin D, excessive exposure to its rays can damage the eyes, weaken the immune system, lead to premature skin aging and long-term malignant changes in the skin. Therefore, every sunburn, especially blistering, increases the risk of melanoma, one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer.

Since the skin of young children is much thinner than that of adults, it is more sensitive to ultraviolet rays. It only takes a few minutes in direct sunlight to burn the skin. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, children up to 1 year old full protection from direct sunlight is recommended. It is no less important to take care of the skin of teenagers, because it is at this age that tanning becomes extremely fashionable. Since redness of the skin is the first sign of skin burn, the family doctor reminds that teenagers should also enjoy sunbathing responsibly, not allowing the skin to redden and not forgetting protective measures even on a cloudy day.

What helps protect against the sun’s rays?

Stinged again? First aid for allergies

In summer, one of the most common causes of allergic reactions is insect stings. True, the family doctor notices that the allergy does not develop after the first insect sting. It occurs during repeated contact with an allergen, when the body becomes sensitized to a certain allergen and begins to produce specific (IgE) antibodies in order to defend itself against it.

Although mosquito bites are annoying and unpleasant, you should not worry about them, because these insects do not inject poison into the human body. Hornet, wasp and bee stings are much more dangerous because when they sting, these insects inject venom that can act as a strong allergen that triggers an immune system reaction. However, this reaction is not always allergic. More often, it is inflammatory, when the immune system tries to neutralize poisons that have entered the body, so the site of the sting may swell or itch. The doctor advises, after being stung by one of these flies, to pay attention to the place of the bite. If the pharynx, larynx or tongue has been stung, the sting is extremely dangerous, as the swollen organs can cause respiratory failure.

First aid after a sting of a membrane winged insect (hornet, wasp or bee):

If an insect sting causes a rash at the site of the sting, swelling of the face or lips, shortness of breath or dizziness, or a drop in blood pressure, this may indicate a life-threatening systemic allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). If you notice these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Safe behavior in water and on land: what you need to know?

Summer is the best time for active leisure time, but it is not uncommon for children to be injured both on land and in water while engaged in active activities. In order to avoid them, it is extremely important to take appropriate protective measures and not forget to educate the offspring.

Often children’s injuries are related to trying tricks, driving too fast or losing balance. Therefore, when riding a bicycle, scooter, rollerblades or using another vehicle, it is necessary to wear a helmet, elbow, knee, and hand protection. This will help prevent scratches from falling and reduce the chance of broken bones. The density and fragility of bones depends on trace elements such as potassium, calcium, vitamin D, so it is important to ensure the necessary amount of them in the diet. As Tomas Strankauskas, a physiotherapist at the Altamedica Adult Rehabilitation Clinic, observes, children have difficulty maintaining balance during the simplest exercises, which increases the risk of falling, so it is advisable to develop balance and muscle strength through various exercises.

When it comes to the dangers lurking in the water, the most disturbing statistics are the drownings of children. According to the data of the Official Statistics Portal of the Republic of Lithuania, usually only 1 out of 10 drowning children can be saved, and the most drowned children are 1-4 year olds. It is a mistake to think that a drowning child will call for help. When water enters the airways, the drowning person cannot breathe in or out, so it is impossible to call for help. In order to ensure the protection of children, parents should start teaching children about safe behavior in and around water as early as possible and prevent their children from:

You can find more tips on how to spend a safe summer and not risk the health of your children by visiting www.altamedica.lt