How to recognise and treat the effects of extreme temperatures on a baby or child.

Heat rash

Heat rash consists of small red spots or raised bumps that can cause a stinging or prickling feeling on the skin, sometimes called prickly heat. It occurs when sweat glands are blocked due to the child sweating more than normal. It can appear anywhere on the body but usually appears on the face, chest, back, and thighs.

Signs and symptoms

Someone with a heat rash may have:

a rash of tiny red spots, blisters, or bumps
a prickling or burning feeling on their skin
itchy skin
redness and mild swelling.

Treatment

If they have these symptoms, the rash is not serious and should go away in a few days.
Tell them to drink lots of water to prevent them from becoming dehydrated.
Take a cool bath or shower to cool the skin and prevent further sweating.
Do not use perfumed shower gels or creams, as this could irritate the skin.
Apply a cold ice pack wrapped in a tea towel for up to 10 minutes.
Wear loose clothing, preferably made of cotton, which will not trap the heat as much as synthetic fibres.
Suggest they avoid excessive heat, such as a fire, a heater, or sitting in the sun, to prevent aggravating the rash.
Advise them to see a pharmacist or healthcare professional for further treatment if required.
If they are concerned or unwell, seek medical advice.

Heat exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is caused by a loss of salt and water, usually through excessive sweating. It develops slowly and usually happens to people who aren’t used to hot, humid weather.

Signs and symptoms

Look for:

a headache, dizziness, and confusion
a loss of appetite and feeling sick
sweat with pale, clammy skin
cramps in the arms, legs, and stomach
a fast, weakening pulse, and breathing

Treatment

Help the child to a cool place, out of the sun, and encourage them to lie down with their legs raised and supported. You then need to give them lots of water to drink. You could also give them an isotonic sports drink or oral rehydration solution to help replace the salt and fluid they have lost through sweating.

Do not mix regular cooking salt into water and give it to them to drink; this will make their condition worse. Monitor their level of response. Even if they recover quickly, suggest they seek medical advice. If their condition seems to be getting worse, call 999/112 for emergency help.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke is caused by a failure of the ‘thermostat’ in the brain, which regulates the body’s temperature. This means the body is unable to cool down when it becomes too hot.

It could be caused by spending too much time in the sun, having a high fever, or taking non-prescription drugs such as Ecstasy. It can also occur after heat exhaustion, when sweating ceases.

Your priority is to cool them down as quickly as possible and get them to the hospital.

Signs and symptoms

Look for:

headache, dizziness, and discomfort
They may be restless and confused.
hot, flushed, and dry skin
becoming less responsive quickly.
pulse that’s full and bounding
body temperature above 40°C (104°F)

Treatment

Quickly move the child to a cool place and remove as much of their outer clothing as you can. Call 999 or 112 for emergency help.

Help them to sit down in a comfortable, supported position. Wrap them in a cool, wet sheet and keep pouring cold water over the sheet until their temperature falls to at least 37.5°C (measured under the armpit). If a sheet is not available, fan them or sponge them down with cold water.

Once their temperature has come down to normal, replace the wet sheet with a dry one.

While waiting for help to arrive, monitor their level of response and temperature.

If their temperature starts to increase, cool them down again using the same method.

If they become unresponsive at any point, open their airway, check their breathing, and prepare to give CPR.

How to recognise and treat the effects of an extreme cold on an infant or child

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a condition that occurs when someone’s body temperature drops below 35°C (95°F). Normal body temperature is around 37°C (98.6 °F). Hypothermia can become life-threatening quickly, so it’s important to treat someone with hypothermia right away.

Signs and symptoms

A baby may:

be cold to touch.
be quiet and sleepy.
be limp
refuse to feed.

What to do

If you suspect a baby has hypothermia, take them to a warm room and dress them in warm clothes. Do not place any direct heat, such as hot water bottles, near a baby, as they can cause burns.

You can also wrap them in a blanket and hold them close to you to help warm them up.

Call 999 or 112 for emergency help. Keep trying to warm them until help arrives.

Frostbite

Frostbite happens when part of the skin and other tissues freeze due to low temperatures. It can lead to loss of sensation and eventually tissue death and gangrene. This usually happens when exposed to freezing cold temperatures and windy weather.

Signs and symptoms

Look for:

‘pins and needles’

paleness of the area and numbness

hardened and stiffened skin

colour change to the skin. The skin may change from white to mottled and blue. On recovery, the skin may be red, hot, painful, and blistered. When gangrene occurs, the skin may become black due to the loss of blood supply.

Treatment

Help move the child indoors or to somewhere warm.

Once inside, gently remove any constricting rings, gloves, boots, or any other constricting items.

Next, warm the affected part with your hands on your lap.

Do not rub the area, as this could damage their skin.

Do not expose the affected part of the body to direct heat.

Place the affected part in warm but not hot water—around 40°C. Dry the area carefully and put on a light dressing, ideally a gauze bandage from your first aid kit.

Once you’ve done that, help them raise the affected part to reduce swelling. Do not give aspirin to anyone under the age of 16 or to anyone who is known to be allergic.

Take them or send them to the hospital.

How to Treat the Effects of Extreme Temperatures on a Baby and Child

How to recognise and treat the effects of extreme temperatures on a baby or child