Children love to spend time outdoors when the temperatures get warmer. Some children play outdoor school sports while others simply spend time outdoors at home. If your child is an athlete, here’s how to protect them during outdoor school sports.
Be sure your child always wears sun block. Sun block can protect your child’s tender skin and help them avoid developing skin cancer in the future. Try to find a sun block which will remain active when they sweat. The higher sun block number used, the better the protection for your child’s skin.
Pay attention to the UV Index for the day. Knowing the UV Index will help you determine what type of sun block is needed or how long they can be outside without sun protection. The local news should tell what the UV Index is expected to be for each day so you can plan accordingly.
Nothing is more important than staying hydrated during summer outdoor sports. Ensure the coach provides cool water or sports drinks for each child. If they aren’t providing enough liquids, you may want to bring drinks for the team so the children don’t develop heat exhaustion.
Even though the weather is warm during the summer, you’ll want to ensure your child is wearing summer protective clothing. Lightweight, loose-fitting natural fabrics are best. It may not seem like it makes sense, but long sleeves can actually help your child stay cooler when the temperatures soar.
Be sure their jackets fit properly. Springtime weather can be cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon or vice versa. Having a jacket which fits properly will ensure that your child is able to stay warm when needed. You’ll also want the jacket to be made of lightweight material, have a soft inner lining and a hood.
Know what signs to look for if something goes wrong with your child. Heat exhaustion is a dangerous situation and can turn deadly if not handled promptly. Symptoms include feeling cold, having cold or clammy skin, nausea and throwing up. They may also stop sweating. If the heat exhaustion gets bad enough your child could pass out.
To combat heat exhaustion, you’ll want to ensure that your child is hydrated properly, not active during the hottest part of the day and is able to get out of the direct sunlight. Your child’s sports coach should know the signs of heat exhaustion and act accordingly to ensure your child (or any other child, for that matter) is treated immediately if they exhibit heat exhaustion symptoms.
You may not be able to be with your child during each of their sports practices, but you may want to be available for as many as possible. Do what you can to protect your child as they enjoy being a part of a sports team.
