As temperatures rise, don't let summer fun end in tragedy

Central Florida physicians are encouraging extra vigilance this summer to keep children and family members safe. Three areas of particular concern are heat-related illnesses, water safety, and vehicle crashes.

More children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause, and it’s the second-leading cause of accidental death for children 5-14, according to the CDC. With unintentional drownings more common in June, July and August, Dr. Christine Estrada, assistant chief medical officer at HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital and HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, encourages bright-colored swimsuits for children, life jackets when boating, and never leaving a child unattended near water.

“Drownings can happen before anyone notices a child is in trouble, and can tragically occur even when there are people around,” Dr. Estrada said. “It is imperative to watch children closely whether at the beach or the pool and provide swimming lessons when age appropriate. We also encourage everyone to learn CPR in case of an emergency.”

Doctors also see an influx of patients suffering heat exhaustion or heat stroke as the temperatures – and humidity – rise. High humidity levels combined with rising air temperatures can create dangerously hot conditions. The heat index is the “feels-like” temperature when humidity is combined with air temperature. Dr. Estrada notes people particularly vulnerable to high heat index levels include the elderly, young children, those with chronic illnesses or pre-existing conditions, outdoor workers and women who are pregnant.

“Older adults retain more heat and often struggle to regulate body temperature, while children sweat less efficiently and take longer to adjust to high heat index levels,” she explained. 

Dr. Estrada advises wearing lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing to help keep cool as well as the following tips: 

• Never leave a child unattended in a car. 
• During the hottest times of the day, remain in air-conditioned space as much as possible. 
• If you need to be outside, take frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas. 
• Apply sunscreen to prevent sunburn, which can affect a body’s ability to cool itself. 
• Seek medical help if symptoms such as heavy sweating, weakness, fatigue or dizziness, nausea or muscle cramps don’t resolve after moving to a cooler location and drinking water.

Trauma incidents are also known to increase in the summer months. For example, more than 1,500 deaths occurred from injuries during the use of watercraft between 2019-2020. Car, bike, scooter and pedestrian accidents are also a risk with increased traffic and children out of school for the summer. In addition to taking safety precautions such as wearing seatbelts, life jackets or helmets when using or riding in or on a vehicle, Dr. Estrada recommends taking a Stop the Bleed course, which teaches emergency response in a serious bleeding situation. Stop the Bleed® training in Central Florida is provided by HCA Florida Lake Monroe Hospital, HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, UCF Lake Nona Hospital and HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. Classes open to the public are regularly held at the hospitals and community events. In addition, group classes can be scheduled for businesses, schools, churches and civic groups. Classes are free. For more information on Stop the Bleed classes, visit HCA Florida Healthcare Stop the Bleed®.