What should I do if my eight-month-old baby has heatstroke?

If the weather is hot, staying outside for a long time may cause heat stroke. If heat stroke is severe and not treated effectively, it may even result in loss of life. So, when the weather is hot, try not to stay in the sun for a long time, especially if you are working outdoors. Some babies also like to play outside when the weather is hot, so what should we do if an eight-month-old baby gets heatstroke?

Symptoms of heat stroke

If it is a mild symptom of heatstroke, the baby's body will show symptoms of body temperature below 38℃, rapid pulse, flushed face, fatigue and weakness, and may be accompanied by headache, dizziness, thirst and sweating, general fatigue, crying and irritability, poor appetite, etc. When there is a problem with heat dissipation, the human body cannot dissipate heat continuously. If it is severe heatstroke, the baby's body temperature is above 38°C. The initial increase in body temperature will cause profuse sweating, and later symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, dilated pupils, and limb cramps will appear. In severe cases, it may even lead to fainting.

How to prevent heat stroke in babies?

1. Take physical sun protection measures when going out and avoid direct sunlight:

When your baby goes out, you must fully protect him from the sun. You can apply some sunscreen on him, or use an umbrella, wear clothes with sun protection, or a hat. When taking a baby out, try to keep him/her under the shade of a tree, an awning, or a stroller canopy. Also, avoid going out between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Don’t always think that cloudy days are cool and you don’t need to prepare sun protection for your baby. However, cloudy days have 80% of the ultraviolet rays of sunny days, so you still need to be prepared for sun protection.

2. Develop a good habit of drinking water at any time:

Babies generally exercise more in the summer, consume more water, and sweat more dramatically, so parents must help their babies develop the habit of drinking water at any time. Don't drink when you are very thirsty, which will harm your child's health. When children are playing, parents should always prepare an appropriate amount of water at room temperature and remind them to drink water to replenish their energy, which can reduce the chance of heatstroke.

What should I do if my baby has heat stroke?

1. Immediately move the child to a ventilated, cool, and dry place, such as a corridor or under the shade of a tree. If possible, move the child to a cool room as soon as possible.

2. Turn on the fan or air conditioner. The temperature should be appropriate, not too low. The fan should not blow directly on the baby. You can also use cold water to help the baby cool down.

3. In order to quickly lower the baby's body temperature, you can apply a wet towel to the baby's head, or if conditions permit, it is best to give the baby a warm bath.

4. You can give your baby some boiled water to replenish the loss of water in the body, but be careful to drink small amounts of water multiple times, and don't drink too much at one time. In addition to boiled water, you can also boil some mung bean soup to dispel heat and reduce fever for your baby to drink appropriately.