Look after children in hot weather

Health authorities warn that extreme caution should be exercised regarding sports festivals and sports training held in schools due to the severe hot weather conditions prevailing across the island. Dr. Channa de Silva, a specialist in respiratory diseases at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo, points out that it is essential to ensure the health and safety of children and to pay close attention when organizing sports events amidst this hot weather.

He emphasized this while participating in a special media briefing held today (13) at the main auditorium of the Ministry of Health and Mass Media, with the aim of educating the public.

Especially since there is intense sunlight between 10.00 AM and 1.00 PM, the specialist doctor suggested that steps should be taken to minimize school sports activities during those hours as much as possible. Although children may prefer to play continuously, it is mandatory to provide them with adequate breaks intermittently, without allowing continuous play. In addition, he pointed out that it is very important to keep children constantly in cool and shaded places, and to regularly provide them with water and salt-containing beverages to maintain their body's hydration level.

The doctor stated that there is a high risk of children falling victim to various physical complications due to not following proper health guidelines and an increase in body temperature. Conditions such as excessive fatigue, dizziness, and muscle cramps may emerge as primary symptoms here, and if this condition is not recognized and the child's body heat continues to rise, it could even develop into complex and fatal conditions like heatstroke.

The doctor also explained how to act immediately if a child shows signs of faintness, dizziness, excessive fatigue, or an altered state of consciousness. The first step is to remove the child from the hot environment and take them to a cool place, and if they are able to drink, provide them with water. Dr. Channa de Silva further emphasized that if, after providing such first aid, the relevant symptoms persist without subsiding, steps should be taken without delay to admit the child to the nearest government hospital.