What the Experts Say about Heat Safety for Your Children

Even in the dog days of summer, temperatures in central Alabama can still hover over 90 degrees! These high heats are even more dangerous for infants and toddlers who are less able to regulate their body temperature compared to adults.

Whether you are a parent, babysitter, caregiver, or child care provider, knowing proper heat safety is crucial when keeping our children healthy and safe.

Let's hear from the experts on the best heat safety practices:

DHR Licensing & Performance Standards

• Infants should be taken outside two to three times daily

• Toddlers should be allowed 60 to 90 minutes of outdoor play activity

• Preschoolers should be allowed 60 to 90 minutes of outdoor play activities

• Drinking water with no added sweeteners or carbonation shall be readily available in indoor and outdoor areas to each child throughout the day
  

American Academy of Pediatrics

• Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• The sun's damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, water, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful of these areas

• Select clothes made of tightly woven fabrics such as Cotton clothing which is both cool and protective

• Babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct sunlight

• For older children, the first, and best, line of defense against harmful ultraviolet radiation exposure is covering up

• Reschedule outdoor play when temperatures reach 105 degrees

If applying sunscreen, follow regulations for Administering Medications

• Do not apply to infants 6 months and younger

• Apply a minimal amount of broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to their children’s skin

• Sunscreens containing titanium dioxide or zinc oxide are less likely to irritate a baby’s sensitive skin

• Remember to reapply your child’s sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating, as there is no such thing as “waterproof” sunscreen

When in doubt, here is a helpful guide from the CDC on what to look for and how to treat heat-related illnesses!