Protecting your children from extreme heat

BIRMINGHAM — The Southeast is bracing for heat indices in the triple digits over the next few days. In very hot weather, high humidity, and other conditions, body heat can build to dangerous levels. Conditions like this have led Children’s of Alabama pediatricians to advise parents to pay close attention to their children when it comes to heat-related illnesses. The most common heat-related illnesses are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

“Children are more susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke than adults,” said Dr. Amy McCollum, a pediatrician at Midtown Pediatrics at Children’s of Alabama. “Children have a body mass to surface area ratio that is smaller. They can’t sweat easily, and they can’t maintain their body temperature as well as adults.”

Click on this link for an interview with Dr. Amy McCollum. She offers advice on what parents need to look out for when it comes to a heat stroke or heat exhaustion and recommendations on how parents can keep their children safe and healthy.

About Children’s of Alabama

Since 1911, Children’s of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children, offering inpatient, outpatient and primary care throughout Central Alabama. Ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s serves patients from every county in Alabama and nearly every state. Children’s is a private, not-for-profit medical center that serves as the teaching hospital for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) pediatric medicine, surgery, psychiatry, research and residency programs. The medical staff consists of UAB faculty and Children’s full-time physicians, as well as private practicing community physicians.