It’s easy to get overheated when you’re out having fun. Here are some tips to keep your kids cool and healthy this summer.
Stay hydrated.
Drinking plenty of water before, during and after any type of activity is crucial to staying cool in the warm summer months. Also drinks with high levels of sugar such as sports drinks, sodas and juices can cause dehydration so limiting the amount of artificially flavored drinks your child consumes is recommended.
Slather on the sunscreen.
Wearing sunscreen at every age is essential in protecting the skin against harmful UV rays. Check out this list of the “9 Best Sunscreens for Kids” from Parents Magazine.
Find a shady spot.
Use your golf umbrella to provide some much needed shade from the scorching sun. Wear loose fitting, light-colored clothing that can drastically reduce rising body temperatures. It’s also important to recognize when the temperatures are too high for strenuous or long-term activities outside.
Find ways to keep your body cool.
Drinking iced beverages seems to cool your insides, but pay attention to your outsides too. Wrap a wet bandana around your neck when you’re watching the team play in the midday sun. Did you know that humans radiate heat from the palm of our hands and the soles of our feet? Holding a cold compress in your hands or running cool water on your feet is a great way to cool down.
Go at a snail’s pace.
Taking ample breaks between workouts, games and activities during summer is vital to avoiding the dangerous impacts of overheating. Traditional body cooling systems like wet towels and misting fans may cool an athlete temporarily, but they don’t protect a user from the damaging effects of potential overheating.
Eat “cool” foods.
Foods with high water content can help keep you hydrated and cool. Freeze watermelon pieces, grapes and blueberries for a healthy, straight-from-the-freezer treat. Use instead of ice cubes to add fun to a plain glass of water or low-sugar lemonade.
Jun-24-2013