Page 13 - elevatesummer18

THEY MAY TRY to act like mini-
adults, but children can’t always look
out for themselves. They need adults
to step up and help keep them safe,
even when it isn’t convenient, like
when you’re running errands and a
cranky child doesn’t want to get out
of the car.
“A lot of times, parents or
babysitters may think they can dash
into the bank or grocery store and
leave a child in the car for just a
moment,” says Edward K. Clark, MD,
Chair of the Department of Pediatrics
at Navicent Health. “But if they see a
friend or get stuck in a line, a quick
errand can turn into a tragedy.”
Because of their size and biology,
children’s bodies can overheat
three to five times faster than
the bodies of adults. That can
put them at greater risk for heat
exhaustion and heatstroke, which
can happen faster for children
than it would for a grownup.
Heatstroke and dehydration can
cause compromised blood flow to
the brain, which may lead to brain
damage or even death, and it can
happen faster than you think.
AVOID A HEAT-RELATED CATASTROPHE
According to the Governor’s Office
of Highway Safety in Georgia,
52 percent of vehicular heatstroke
cases happen when a caregiver
forgets a child in the car. You may
think it would never happen to you.
But even when you are trying to be
mindful, you may forget to follow
lifesaving habits in the middle of a
hectic day.
“Being busy is common, and
anyone can become distracted,” says
Christy Peterson, MD, pediatrician
with Beverly Knight Olson Children’s
Hospital, Navicent Health. “Set
yourself reminders to help protect
your family from the unthinkable.”
To help reduce the risk of leaving a NAVICENT HEALTH IS AVAILABLE
child in the car by mistake:
»» Place your briefcase, cell phone
or purse in the back seat next to
your child.
»» Write yourself a note and tape it to
your dashboard.
»» Set automated reminders on your
mobile device.
Also, remember to lock cars
when they are empty so kids
cannot climb inside. Keep keys out
of reach of children at all times so
they cannot get in the car on their
own and get stuck.
TAKE ACTION
Even on a cooler day, temperatures
inside a locked car can rise quickly.
If you see a child in a car with these
symptoms, it’s time to take action:
»» Confusion
»» Fainting
»» Dizziness
»» Dry or flushed skin
»» Headache
»» Nausea
»» Rapid breathing and heartbeat
»» Seizure
Seeking immediate help for these
symptoms is critical, so do not delay
before calling 911 and taking the
child out of the car.
“If you can’t get the child out of the
car because the car is locked, break
the window,” Dr. Clark says. “And if
you notice a child left in someone
else’s car with the door locked, do
not hesitate to intervene just as
you would if your own child was
involved.”
While you are waiting for help
to arrive, cool the child down as
quickly as possible by removing
layers of clothing or spritzing her
or him with cool water. If the child
is not alert, awake and responsive,
do not attempt to give her or him
fluids while you are waiting for
emergency care.
THE TEAM AT BEVERLY KNIGHT
OLSON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL,
TO TREAT YOUR CHILD 24/7.
TO LEARN MORE, VISIT
WWW.CHILDRENSHOSPITALNH.ORG/
EMERGENCY. IN THE EVENT OF AN
EMERGENCY, CALL 911.
FAMILY HEALTH
TAKE STEPS TO
PROTECT YOUR PETS
Your pets are part of your family, and you want to
keep them out of harm’s way, just like you would
with your children. So remember that, like kids, your
pets are prone to dehydration, heat exhaustion and
heatstroke.
Leaving your pet in a hot car can be dangerous.
Their smaller bodies can heat up quickly whether the
windows are open or closed—especially since they
are wearing fur coats all of the time. Left alone in a
hot car, your furry friend may suffocate or get brain
damage.
If your pet is left in the heat too long, you may
notice symptoms such as:
»» Dark red or purple tongue
»» Glazed eyes
»» Rapid pulse
»» Unsteadiness when standing or walking
»» Vomiting
Call your veterinarian if you notice any of these
signs of heat stress. While on your way to the vet or
while you are waiting for help, cool your pet down
with sprinkled water or cold compresses on the
armpits, ears, groin, neck and paws. Always have a
bowl of cold water available for your pet to drink.
BUT, BABY,
IT’S COOL OUTSIDE...
Even if it doesn’t feel very hot outside, the sun can
quickly cause the temperature inside your vehicle to
skyrocket. The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety
in Georgia notes that a seemingly harmless scene
can be deadly.
The temperature inside a car with the window
rolled up can climb to dangerous levels in
10 minutes on a seemingly temperate 80-degree
day. But it doesn’t even need to be that warm
to cause heatstroke, which can occur in a closed
vehicle at temperatures as low as 57 degrees
Fahrenheit.
SUMMER 2018 | navicenthealth.org 13