The British Red Cross: Heat Exhaustion

The British Red Cross: Heat Exhaustion

Summer is finally here and as the little ones in your care enjoy outdoor play and activities in the (hopefully) warm weather and sunshine, it’s important to be aware of the extra risks. Babies and children don't sweat as much as adults, which is a crucial function for cooling the body.  They also generate lots of body heat when they're running about. This can lead to an increased risk of heat exhaustion. 

Here’s how to help if you think a baby or child in your care may have heat exhaustion: 

A child or baby with heat exhaustion might have been in the sun or heat for a long time. They might be sweating, their skin may be paler than it normally is and clammy, they may have a headache and feel sick, have a headache or dizziness, and feel sick.

1. Help the child or baby to a cool place and get them to rest.

2. Give the child or baby plenty to drink

• Drinking water will replace lost fluids. 

• Babies under six months old might want to feed more often - whether that's breast or bottle. They don't need to be offered water.

• For babies who are formula fed, make sure to mix the milk according to the manufacturer's instructions. Importantly, it doesn't need to have more water added.

• Babies who are over 6 months old or who are weaning can be given small volumes of additional water (boiled and cooled), but this shouldn’t replace any normal milk feeds given.

3. Seek medical advice.  

Even if the child or baby appears to recover fully, you should seek medical advice. If their condition gets worse, call 999 for emergency help.

Support different learning styles with a blended course 

Red Cross Training’s blended paediatric first aid course is available to book now. It includes one day of online training and one day of face-to-face training.  

Blended learning is a great way to combine the benefits of different learning styles. While some people prefer face-to-face learning, others favour learning via a mix of media including audio, video and text. Blended learning is an ideal way to combine the benefits of both styles. 

Blended learning  is also easy to fit around other commitments: learners can complete the first half of the course online, at their own pace  anytime in the two weeks before the face-to-face, practical part of the course.  

Learn more: Blended paediatric first aid course | Red Cross Training (redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk) 

The information in this article is provided by the British Red Cross and does not represent Morton Michel.