The extreme heat keeps hitting California and the sunny days are far from over. Just recently, thermometers registered a high of 100° Fahrenheit or greater, worrying healthcare professionals as more cases of heatstroke and other heatwave safety incidents are recorded. The intense California heat also means higher cases of child injury. With kids heading out of the house more frequently during the summer season, they become more prone to heat-related mishaps.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends paying special attention to children because they are more vulnerable to illness and injury in high temperatures than adults.
Heatwave Safety Protection Guidelines for Kids
According to the CDC, to keep the little ones safe in this heatwave, you have to:
- Dress them in fresh clothes and light colors.
- Hydrate them constantly by drinking a lot of water.
- Avoid giving them any sugary and/or cold drinks.
- Never leave them in a parked car. The temperatures inside the car can rise to almost 20°F within the first 10 minutes, even with a window open. Kids left unsupervised are at higher risk of suffering from a heat stroke which may lead to death.
- Always remind yourself that if a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal and/or a child’s shoe in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal and/or the shoe in the front with the driver.
- After you park your vehicle, remember to check if someone is left inside. Frequently, parents and caregivers forget that the children are in the vehicle mainly because of rushing towards errands.
Never Leave Them in the Car!
If you usually drive with your kids in the car and tend to leave them there while you shop groceries or run some errands, this is the time to refrain from doing so. According to the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA), within 10 minutes, the interior temperature of a car parked in direct sunlight can reach up to 133°F when outside temperatures are 90°F.
Keep in mind that a heatstroke happens when the body temperatures reach 104°F, so if you leave your child in the car under the extreme California heat, he/she may suffer from a stroke that you might know nothing about. Worse, it could lead to death.
According to the San Jose State University Department of Meteorology & Climate Science, California has the third-highest number of deaths in the nation due to heatstroke, from 1998 to the present.
It states that there are around 37 California heatwave safety incidents that involve children per year. This is because their parents tend to leave them unsupervised inside their vehicles under direct sunlight. Do not allow your kids to be part of this statistic. Never leave them in the car again!
Consequently, you have to remember that California’s Vehicle Code states that it is unlawful to leave a child 6 years or younger alone in a car.
Heat-Related Illnesses
According to the CDC, all heat-related illnesses are preventable, as long as you take proper precautions. Below are some heatwave safety and response tips to follow in case you end up facing any related emergencies:
Heat Stroke
Symptoms
- High body temperature (103°F or more)
- Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
- Fast and strong pulse
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
What to Do in Case of a Heat Stroke
- Call 911. Heatstroke is a medical emergency.
- Move the kid to a cooler place
- Help to lower the child’s temperature with cooler clothes or a cool bath.
- Do not give him/her anything to drink!
Heat Exhaustion
Symptoms
- Heavy sweating
- Cold, pale, and clammy skin
- Fast, weak pulse
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Weakness
- Headache
- Fainting
What to Do in Case of Heat Exhaustion
- Move the kid to a cooler place
- Lose his/her clothes
- Put cold, wet clothes/towel oh his/her body or give him/her a cool bath.
- Sip water
Seek Medical Assistance if:
- The child is vomiting
- The symptoms get worse
- The symptoms last more than an hour
Heat Cramps
Symptoms
- Heavy sweating while intense exercise
- Muscle pain or spasms
What to Do in Case of Heat Cramps
- Stop the physical activity and move the kid to a cooler place
- He/she must drink water or a rehydrating drink
- Ask him/her to wait for cramps to go away before he/she does any more physical activity
Seek Medical Assistance if:
- The cramps last more than an hour
- The kid is on a diet low in sodium
- The kid has heart problems
Sunburn
Symptoms
- Painful, red, and warm skin
- Blisters on the skin
What to do in case of sunburn
- Keep the kid away of sunlight until his/her skin is healing
- Put cold clothes or wet towel in the burned areas or give him/her a cool bath
- Apply moisturizing lotion on the sunburned area
- Do not break the blister!
Heat Rash
Symptoms
- Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples on the neck, chest, groin, and/or elbow
What to Do in Case of Heat Rash
- Keep the child in a cool place, away from the heat
- Keep the rash dry
- Use powder to soothe the rash
Keep Kids Safe and Protected During the Heatwave
Do not let your loved one be on the list of California heatwave safety incidents. If your child sustained an injury related to heat or burns from the sun, more so death, due to someone else’s negligence, do not hesitate, and contact us. At Farahi Law Firm, we have expert lawyers that will help you obtain the justice you are entitled to and the compensation you deserve. Call us to get a free consultation on your case at (844) 824-2955.
