Despite having lived in Tucson for 5 years now, I have still not quite got used to the insane heat when it comes and during those days I am the one doing all that I can to stay as cool as possible. I love the temperature throughout the fall and winter months but when that August sunshine starts burning down, evasive action is most definitely required.
I am always more protective of my kids during this time as well, ever since my buddy Michael Thomas Eckhardt told me about the amount of young children who are sent to hospital each year because of the heat and dehydration, I was intent on not being a father who could be accused of not doing enough to help my kids avoid their death in this extreme Tucson heat. If you want to keep your kids cool when the weather is punishing, here are some tips to follow.
Clothing Choices
Naturally you want to make sure that you are dressing your child in an appropriate way for the summer heat. There can be a temptation to put your child in some shorts and t-shirts but just bear in mind the exposure of their skin to the sun’s rays. If you do opt for this type of clothing then you will need to arm yourself with plenty of suncream to avoid them burning. The best course of action that I have found is clothing which covers them up, but is very light thus blocking the sun’s rays whilst still keeping them cool. Don’t forget to give your child a hat to wear as the sun can really blaze down on the top of their heads if you don’t.
Bedroom
Be careful with the air con in the child’s bedroom as it will keep the child cool but the air can also hurt their throat and lungs. Try turning the air con onto a timer so that it can come on intermittently throughout the night to keep your child nice and cool. You could also consider putting frozen water bottles in the child’s room at night, as they melt they will cool the air.
Limit Outdoors Time
When the sun is shining, all kids want to do is play outdoors and whilst it can be a difficult thing to tell your high energy child, you must restrict how much time they spend out in the sunshine. Especially try to avoid the midday sun as this is when things are at their hottest. Try to entertain your child indoors where it is cool and safe.
Fluids
Keeping your child cool is not just about their exterior but their interior too and you need to make sure that they are taking lots of water and cool drinks so that they can say hydrated and lower their core body temperature. Make sure that you are giving your child fluids at least every hour or two to ensure that they stay nice and cool.