Hot or cold weather is a great time for children to play outside. They can play in the water or hide and seek together, which is fun in summer or rainy season. But how do you know if your child is free to play in cold or hot weather? What are the safe and unsafe temperatures? How do I indicate the temperature of "wind chill", "heat index", or "relative humidity" outside? Actually the method is quite simple. All you need is a little knowledge of the weather as well as practical advice to guide your decision.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Reading the Weather Forecast
Step 1. Check the local weather forecast
First of all, check the weather outside by checking the temperature in your area, either by looking at the newspaper or on the internet. Watch for bad weather or warnings about excessive heat or cold.
Use a thermometer to check the temperature outside. You will know the conditions outside by recording the temperature. Just keep in mind that the temperature outside doesn't make your decision: a thermometer is only capable of detecting air temperature, but it is not capable of detecting cold winds or the heat index that makes the temperature feel colder or warmer than the actual air temperature
Step 2. Keep the child in the house when the temperature is very cold
Extreme cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia, which is the body's natural temperature dropping too low. The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that children play indoors if the temperature outside is below -25ºC. This is an absolute limit. Within minutes the skin will start to freeze.
- In the US, the state of Oklahoma encourages children to play indoors if the wind chill is below -12ºC. However, when the temperature is 0ºC, children have to enter the house every 20-30 minutes.
- In the US, the National Weather Service will issue a wind chill warning if cold winds are deemed to pose a threat to human life. If your place of residence also has this kind of warning, make sure your child stays indoors.
Step 3. Keep the child indoors when it is very hot outside
Extremely hot temperatures can make children suffer from heatstroke, heat exhaustion, or burns from hot objects such as toys, sunburn, and excessive thirst, especially when they are actively playing. Have the child stay indoors and wait for it to cool down if the temperature outside exceeds 40ºC.
- If you live in a warmer climate or if your child is active, it's a good idea to limit the time your child plays or plays sports when it's cold in the morning or evening. Don't play outside when it's hot between 10:00-16:00
- The National Weather Service will issue an overheating warning if the current temperature is deemed dangerous for humans. If your place of residence also has this kind of warning, make sure your child stays indoors.
Step 4. Follow the guidelines issued by your child's school, if any
Many schools have weather regulations for outdoor play. If the temperature outside is too hot or cold, stay indoors. Find out if this is regulated by your child's school, then apply it at home too. If the outdoor rest period is canceled, it means the temperature is dangerous.
Method 2 of 3: Calculating Wind Chill or Heat Index
Step 1. Look at the "apparent temperature" in your area
Temperatures that don't always reflect the actual level of heat or cold outside make it difficult for you to determine when to play outside for your child. This is due to various other factors, especially humidity and cold winds. You should look for the "clear temperature" value, which is the actual hot or cold value once you know the wind and humidity.
- Wind chill is the apparent temperature in cold weather, that is, the drop in air temperature that is felt when the wind blows against the skin. Meteorologists use complex formulas to calculate wind chill, but you can look up charts or online calculators to calculate it. What you need to know is the air temperature and wind speed. This wind chill chart will provide wind chill values.
- The heat index is the apparent temperature in hot weather, which is the actual temperature the body feels after calculating the humidity in the air. The heat index is also calculated using a complex formula, but you can search online charts to calculate it. What you need to know is the air temperature and relative humidity.
Step 2. Know the danger zones in cold winds
Frostbite can occur within minutes if wind chill temperatures fall below -27ºC, according to the National Weather Service. Therefore, do not let your child still outside when the temperature outside is close to this value.
For example, when the air temperature is -1ºC, strong or gentle winds will reduce the wind chill value to around -6ºC, or the limit value for children playing safe outside. A temperature of -4ºC and a gentle wind will make a cold wind with a temperature of -7ºC
Step 3. Know the danger zones on the heat index
Just like a cold wind, you have to know the clear level of heat that is safe and which is not. Air with a temperature of 32ºC will feel like 36ºC if the relative humidity value is 70%. If the relative humidity is 80%, air at 35ºC will feel like 45ºC. The temperature can obviously be very dangerous.
Sunlight also has an effect. Full exposure to the sun can increase the heat index factor up to 8ºC. The heat index is 36ºC so it will feel like 44ºC
Method 3 of 3: Keeping the Child at a Comfortable Temperature
Step 1. Put on the child the right clothes
In very hot or very cold weather, give your child the right clothes for the activity: coat, gloves, hat, scarf, or warm shoes for the snow, layered clothes for the moderate temperature, and light clothes when it's hot.
- Layered clothing is the key to clothing in cold weather. Active children will overheat when they are outside, even when it is cold. The heat will make the body sweat, and the humidity can make the child uncomfortable and much more quickly make the child lose body heat so that he is at risk of developing hypothermia. Dress clothes in such a way that they can be removed in layers if they get too hot, for example.
- Wear three layers of clothing: an inner layer that keeps a little moisture in (we recommend using polyester and material, not cotton), a medium layer for insulation, such as fleece or wool, or even several layers. Finally, an outer layer to resist wind, water, or ice, such as a hooded coat, warm pants, hat, etc.
Step 2. Watch for symptoms of excessive cold or heat
Children who are too cold or too hot will show symptoms. If any of these symptoms are recognized by you, ask you to come inside to warm or cool off. If these symptoms persist, contact your pediatrician. Call 119 or ambulance services if symptoms are severe.
- Exposure to excessive heat can make muscles spasm and can make you faint. Symptoms of heatstroke or heat exhaustion include dizziness, weakness, nausea, or lack of coordination. Dark colored urine is a sign that your child is dehydrated.
- The child's body temperature is too cold or he doesn't say anything. Take action when your child says he is very cold. Shivering alone is the first symptom of hypothermia. More serious symptoms of hypothermia include dizziness, hunger, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, and lack of coordination.
Step 3. Make sure your child stays hydrated
Make sure your child is drinking enough fluids to avoid heat-related illnesses. It has been said above that proper clothing can control excess heat, and in turn will reduce fluid or sweat loss. Wear clothes suitable for the environment. Clothes that are too hot or too thick can quickly overheat.
- Children sweat less and have a longer cooling system than adults. Let the child exercise according to his ability, do not force the child to exercise harder or harder in hot conditions.
- Don't just ask your child to tell you when he's thirsty as a marker for rehydration. Even thirst is a bad indicator of dehydration. Prepare water or other liquids for children in cold or hot weather. When your child is losing a lot of fluids or sweating a lot, replace the electrolyte in your child and give him a sports drink or electrolyte solution, such as Pedialyte.
Step 4. Apply sunscreen to the child and keep him out of direct sunlight
In addition to keeping the child's body cool, avoiding the sun also keeps the child's skin safe from the dangers of UV rays and avoids sunburn, which can have very bad consequences for children.
- Always protect your child by wearing sunscreen all year round, even when it's not summer, as a way of protecting him from the sun. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
- Avoid the hottest sunlight, which is at its peak, 10:00-15:00. Take advantage of umbrellas or shade trees to protect the body when outside.
Warning
- Don't leave your child alone in the car, especially when it's cold or hot.
- Do not allow children to play unsupervised near rivers, seas, lakes, etc. Children who are not good at swimming can easily fall and drown, especially during the rainy season when the water discharge is higher than usual.
