Heat Illness

Our bodies, which create a tremendous amount of internal heat, are normally cooled through sweating and radiating heat through our skin. Under certain circumstances, such as unusually high temperatures, high humidity, or vigorous exercise in hot weather, this natural cooling system may begin to fail, allowing internal heat to build up to dangerous levels. The result may be heat illness, which can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke.

Heat Cramps

Heat cramps are brief, severe cramps in the muscles of the legs, arms, or abdomen that may occur during or after vigorous exercise in extreme heat. The sweating that occurs with vigorous exercise causes the body to lose salts and fluids. And the low level of salts causes the muscles to cramp.

Kids are particularly susceptible to heat cramps when they haven't been drinking enough fluids. Although painful, heat cramps aren't serious.

What to Do:

Most heat cramps don't require special treatment. A cool place, rest, and fluids should ease a child's discomfort. Massaging cramped muscles may also help.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a more severe heat illness that can occur when someone in a hot climate or environment hasn't been drinking enough fluids. Symptoms may include:

dehydration
fatigue
weakness
clammy skin
headache
nausea and/or vomiting
hyperventilation (rapid breathing)
irritability

What to Do:

Bring your child indoors or into the shade.
Loosen or remove your child's clothing.
Encourage your child to eat and drink.
Give your child a bath in cool (not cold) water.
Call your doctor for further advice. If your child is too exhausted or ill to eat or drink, intravenous (IV) fluids may be necessary.

If left untreated, heat exhaustion may escalate into heatstroke, which can be fatal.

Heatstroke

The most severe form of heat illness, heatstroke is a life-threatening medical emergency. The body loses its ability to regulate its own temperature. Body temperature can soar to 106º F (41.1º C) or even higher, leading to brain damage or even death if it isn't quickly treated. Prompt medical treatment is required to bring the body temperature under control.

Factors that increase the risk for heatstroke include overdressing and extreme physical exertion in hot weather with inadequate fluid intake.

Heatstroke also can happen when a child is left in, or becomes accidentally trapped in, a car on a hot day. When the outside temperature is 93º F (33.9º C), the temperature inside a car can reach 125º F (51.7º C) in just 20 minutes, quickly raising body temperature to dangerous levels.

What to Do:

Call for emergency medical help if your child has been outside in the sun exercising for a long time and shows one or more of these symptoms of heatstroke:

flushed, hot, dry skin with no sweating
temperature of 105º F (40.6º C) or higher
severe, throbbing headache
weakness, dizziness, or confusion
sluggishness or fatigue
seizure
decreased responsiveness
loss of consciousness

While waiting for help:

Get your child indoors or into the shade.
Undress your child and sponge or douse him or her with cool water.
Do not give fluids.

An Ounce of Prevention

To help protect kids from heat illness:

Teach kids to always drink plenty of fluids before and during an activity in hot, sunny weather — even if they're not thirsty.
Make sure kids wear light-colored, loose clothing.
Make sure your kids only participate in heavy activity outdoors before noon and after 6 PM.
Teach kids to come indoors immediately whenever they feel overheated.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: October 2010

Related Resources

National Safety Council The National Safety Council offers information on first aid, CPR, environmental health, and safety.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) The AAP is committed to the health and well-being of infants, adolescents, and young adults. The website offers news articles and tips on health for families.

Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke Instruction Sheet During hot, humid weather, the body's internal temperature can rise and can result in heat exhaustion, which can progress to heatstroke if not treated quickly.

Dehydration Sometimes kids lose fluids and salts through fever, diarrhea, vomiting, or long periods of exercise with excessive sweating. Here are some tips on preventing or treating dehydration.

What You Need to Know in an Emergency In an emergency, it's hard to think clearly about your kids' health information. Here's what important medical information you should have handy, just in case.

Sun Safety By teaching kids how to enjoy fun in the sun safely, parents can reduce their risk for developing skin cancer.

Getting Help: Know the Numbers The best time to prepare for an emergency is before one happens. Make sure your family knows emergency phone numbers - and make sure your kids know how to place a call for help.

Dehydration Instruction Sheet Kids can become dehydrated when they lose abnormally large amounts of water and salts. It's important to replenish fluid losses as quickly as possible.