It’s 80 degrees outside; the sun is high in the sky, and your child can feel the sun's rays penetrate his football jersey. As he runs across the field to catch a pass, the feels exhausted, dizzy, and faint. However, he isn’t sweating or perspiring, so he can’t be suffering from a heat-related illness, right? Wrong!!

Children often perspire less than adults and require a higher body temperature to trigger sweating. Therefore, it is more difficult to detect a heat-related illness in children. However, heat-related illnesses are easily preventable with the proper use of fluids, wearing the appropriate clothing, and knowing the signs.

Types of Heat-Related Illnesses:

• Dehydration – deficit in body fluids.
• Heat Exhaustion – nausea; dizziness; weakness; headache, pale and moist skin; heavy perspiration; normal or low body temperature; weak pulse; dilated pupils; disorientation; and fainting spells.
• Heat Stroke – headache; dizziness; confusion; hot dry skin, possibly vascular collapse;coma; and death.

How To Play It “Cool” in the Heat:

The following are tips from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases:

• Recognize the dangers of playing in the heat;
• Respond quickly if heat-related injuries occur;
• Schedule regular fluid breaks during practice and games - kids need to drink 8 ounces of fluid every 20 minutes and more after the game;
• Make player substitutions more frequently when it is hot out;
• Wear light-colored, “breathable” clothing;
• Wear sunscreen on exposed parts of the body; and
• Use misting water sprays on the body to keep cool.

Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.