Heat Protection for Children

The thermometer in Germany is increasingly climbing above the 30-degree mark. When the weather is nice, children often spend a lot of time outdoors—playing, exercising, or hanging out with friends. At the same time, extreme heat puts a strain on the body. A few simple precautions can help prevent health risks.

Children are often less able to assess the risks of high temperatures than adults. While playing or participating in sports, many forget to drink or don’t notice their body’s warning signs until it’s too late.

Extreme heat can lead to dehydration, circulatory problems, or heat exhaustion. Children are particularly at risk during intense physical activity, when exposed to direct sunlight, or if they don’t drink enough.

As a general rule: The younger the child, the more sensitive they are to high temperatures.

The coolest and most pleasant hours of the day are in the morning and early evening. Longer periods spent outdoors, as well as sports, biking, or other strenuous activities, should be scheduled for these times of day whenever possible.   

Sunlight is particularly intense between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. During this time, children should play in the shade or stay indoors in cooler areas whenever possible. Anyone spending time outdoors should limit physical exertion.

The best protection against heat, sun, and UV radiation is appropriate clothing. 

We recommend

• light-colored clothing, 
• loose and airy cuts,
• breathable fabrics such as natural fibers, e.g., cotton or linen,
• a hat with a visor or wide brim,
• sunglasses.

In addition, all exposed skin should be covered with a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or 50+. For effective protection, sunscreen should be applied at least half an hour before going outdoors and reapplied regularly—especially after swimming or heavy sweating. Caution is also advised even on cloudy days.

As temperatures rise, so does the need for fluids. Children should drink regularly and not wait until they feel thirsty.

Help your child by

• offering them an unsweetened beverage with every meal,
• reminding them to drink regularly,
• and making sure your child has enough to drink during sports activities.

Water and unsweetened fruit or herbal teas are best. The drinks can be cool, but should not be served ice-cold.

It’s especially important to replenish fluids after exercise or prolonged exposure to the sun. Water-rich foods such as melons, cucumbers, berries, or tomatoes also help with fluid intake.

Playing soccer, biking, or other sports are also possible in the summer. However, during extreme heat, training should be scheduled for the cooler morning or evening hours whenever possible.

Remind participants to take regular breaks to drink water and to rest sufficiently in the shade. If you experience dizziness, nausea, or headaches, stop physical activity immediately.

The most effective strategy for keeping your home cool is to ventilate at the right time of day: 

• Ventilate at night and early in the morning, 
• during the day, close the windows as well as
• shutters, curtains, or blinds.

While a fan cannot actually cool the air, it often makes you feel more comfortable. However, the airflow should not be directed at your body continuously.

At night, light sleepwear and a thin summer blanket promote restful sleep.

Swimming and wading provide a pleasant way to cool off. However, after spending a long time in the sun, your child should not jump into cold water while overheated; instead, they should first cool down slowly so that their circulation can adjust to the temperature difference. Explain that circulatory collapse in the water carries a serious risk of drowning.

Applying sunscreen is especially important when spending time near or in the water. When splashing around or swimming, a T-shirt or UV-protective shirt provides additional protection for the skin on the shoulders and back. Sunscreen should be reapplied after swimming.

Important: Even school-age children should not play unsupervised near or in the water. It is especially important for children to accurately assess their swimming ability, to swim only at designated swimming areas, and under no circumstances to jump into unfamiliar bodies of water.

These signs may indicate heat stress or the onset of heat exhaustion:

• Heavy sweating,
• flushed face,
• headaches,
• dizziness,
• Nausea,
• ringing in the ears,
• Fatigue,
• difficulty concentrating,
• unusual lethargy or listlessness.

If you suspect this, immediately take your child into the shade or a cool room. If necessary, remove any clothing that is too warm, apply damp (but not too cold) compresses, and offer something to drink.

Sunstroke can occur when the head and neck are exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time. Children without head coverings are particularly at risk. The intense sunlight causes the head and neck to heat up, which can irritate the meninges. 

Typical signs of sunstroke may include:

• headaches,
• dizziness,
• nausea and vomiting,
• fatigue,
• a hot, red face.

If you suspect heatstroke, immediately take your child into the shade or to a cool place. Cool their head and neck with a damp towel. Warning: Do not use ice packs from the freezer—the sudden cold can cause the blood vessels to constrict too much, which can increase heat buildup in the head and lead to circulatory collapse.

If the symptoms do not improve or if additional symptoms develop, you should visit a doctor’s office.

When the body can no longer regulate its temperature in extreme heat, heatstroke occurs. Heatstroke is a medical emergency that can damage organs such as the heart, lungs, and brain. 

Warning signs may include:

• hot, reddened skin,
• lack of sweating despite extreme heat,
• severe headaches,
• vomiting,
• lethargy or even impaired consciousness,
• seizures.

Heatstroke must be treated immediately. In this case, call emergency services at 112.