What you need to know to stay healthy in warm weather:
Remember the sunscreen. Even one blistering sunburn doubles a child’s lifetime risk of skin cancer. Remember to Slip (on t shirt), Slap (on hat), Slop (on sunscreen), Slide (on shades), Seek (shade)**
Make sure your child is drinking plenty of fluids. Make sure your baby has regular wet nappies. Older children should be going to toilet regularly and urine should be pale yellow colour.
Keep children cool: seek shade outdoors and set up water play, if possible.
Bedtime can be uncomfortable: Reduce room temperature by closing blinds (note: not black out blinds, normal blinds/drapes) hours before bed if direct sunlight coming in in the afternoon, cool bath before bed, light clothing/pajamas. Flat sheet, if you have one, can substitute for usual blankets. Turn on fan if you have one – be careful to set it up out of reach of little fingers.
The very young and the elderly are most at-risk in the heat. Over-heated in children can be red-faced and sweaty. However, in younger children, they can just be fussy or irritable. Older children who are too hot or dehydrated may also seem cranky, tired, loss of appetite, or have headaches. Older adults may likewise become confused.
Adults should limit alcohol consumption in the heat.
Water is an excellent way to keep cool. However, every year in Ireland, there is needless loss of young life from drownings when the weather gets warm.
Let’s talk water safety, whether you are going to a beach or river or have a new paddling pool on your balcony or in your garden, please be aware of water safety with little ones — and teens.
#BeAWaterWatcher. I cannot emphasize this enough. Accidents in water happen SO fast! You cannot be too vigilant with your children in the water.
- An adult should ALWAYS be present and supervising, even if there are lifeguards present. The supervising adult should be sober and fully engaged in supervising (not on the phone – the digital detox is good for you). Take turns with other adults. The adult should be close to babies and toddlers at all times. Ideally, the supervising adult should know CPR
- **Remember babies and toddlers can drown in as little as 3-6 cm of water, so careful even with paddling pools or on the edge of water on the beach.
Teach your child from early age about water safety. Find resources @watersafetyireland
- Prevent tragedy: not allow your teens to go swimming unsupervised water or in water that is not safe for swimming. No, this will not make you popular. Talk to your teen about rip tides, unsafe practices such as challenging friends to go beyond comfort level in water. Help them feel comfortable enough to say “no” to being pushed beyond their comfort or ability in water. Make sure they have learned to swim from a qualified instructor. Teach them to never mix alcohol and water activities.
- Do not allow your children to rely on float aids or inflatable toys as life preservers. Use an approved life jacket.
- Know boating and small craft safety. Don’t mix boating and alcohol. Every child out on a boat – that includes inflatable paddleboards – should have a properly fitting, approved life jacket on at all times.
What about all those jelly fish? Check out the facts: https://www.fingal.ie/news/important-notice-lions-mane-jellyfish-27th-july-2022
And please, please, please put an approved sunscreen on your child. If you missed everything you need to know about sunscreen adn some serious urban mythbusting: https://emdoc.ie/2022/06/08/staying-safe-in-the-sun-this-summer
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