Measures to prevent heatstroke in children. Pediatrician Dr. Furito talks about techniques to protect children from the heat

We spoke with Dr. Furito (Mr. Yosuke Imanoshi), a neonatologist and pediatrician who participated in the TBS drama "Kounodori" as a collaborating doctor, about "measures to prevent heatstroke in children."

(This article is a reprint and partial edit of Professor Furito's newsletter , "Preventing heatstroke in children. Talking with the person in charge of the airluv baby stroller cool seat to learn how to protect your child from the heat. ")

 

Airluv Sales Representative: POLED is a premium Korean childcare product brand. It was originally established as an in-house venture within the major company Hyundai Motors. It started out developing child seats, and now sells the "airluv" series, which has sold 700,000 units in Japan and Korea.

airluv was born from the idea that the CEO of Poled would end up with a sweaty back while putting his child in a child seat, and wondered why there are only child seats that are poorly ventilated when there are cool seats with fans for adults.

Thank you for joining us today, Professor Flyto.

 

Common misconceptions about heat stroke

airluv Sales Representative: "airluv" is a product for children to protect themselves from the heat, so it is especially in demand during the hot season. First of all, what is "heat stroke" that we need to be careful of during the hot season? Although it is widely known, I would like to ask you again.

 

Dr. Furaito: Heat stroke is a condition that occurs when the body's ability to regulate its temperature goes haywire in places with high temperatures, or when the balance of water and salt in the body is disrupted. It can range from mild symptoms such as dizziness and headaches to severe symptoms such as loss of consciousness or convulsions, and is all considered heat stroke.

It is said that it is not caused by a single factor, but is more likely to occur when physical and environmental conditions overlap. In terms of physical conditions, it would be doing strenuous exercise under the hot sun. Environmental conditions would be high temperature, high humidity, or strong sunlight.

For example, it is said that heatstroke can occur when a combination of factors such as lack of sleep on a sunny, hot day.

There is a common misconception that heatstroke occurs when exercising in the hot sun, but it can also occur in places with poor ventilation, such as the bathroom, toilet, or bedroom.

Heat stroke is classified into three stages, from I to III. If symptoms such as loss of consciousness or convulsions are life-threatening, it is III. If symptoms are headache or vomiting, it is II. If symptoms are milder than I, it is classified as I.

Signs of heatstroke in children that should not be overlooked are dizziness and excessive sweating, which are classified as mild cases of first or second degree heatstroke. Excessive sweating and dizziness are evidence that blood is not circulating properly. These things occur at the mild stage. If parents or school teachers overlook these symptoms and do not take measures, the condition will worsen to second or third degree.

Many people understand that heat stroke only occurs when symptoms are at level 3, but I want people to know that in fact heat stroke can begin in the earlier stages, such as feeling unwell or sweating profusely, even if the symptoms are mild. By resting in a cool environment and drinking plenty of fluids when symptoms are mild, you can prevent the condition from worsening to level 3.

 

airluv Sales Representative: When it comes to babies, what signs of heatstroke do you think we should look out for?

 

Dr. Flyto: Babies cannot express their symptoms in words, so you need to be careful. The most common symptom is that they are more lethargic than usual. The anterior fontanel, which is the part of the head that is missing a bone until 1 year and 6 months of age, may become sunken.

It's easy for parents to notice when their baby is crying, but it's when they are quiet that they need to be careful. They may stop responding to calls or become listless.

Babies have a higher water content in their bodies than adults, so if they lose water, they are more likely to become dehydrated quickly.

 

What is the fan-equipped cooling seat airluv?

Professor Flyto: Could you tell us about your product "airluv"?

 

airluv Sales Representative:airluv is a fan-equipped seat that can be placed on a stroller or child car seat, and has a fan on the bottom of the seat to suck in air. It has 23 air holes on the seat that blow a gentle breeze.

Currently, we have a cumulative total of over 700,000 units sold in Japan and Korea combined, and our latest product is the airluv 4 series.

The air coming out of the seat is exhausted from 23 air holes inside the seat, which are ergonomically arranged. The air holes are large to allow a gentle breeze to come out so as not to cool the neck too much. On the other hand, smaller holes are used to increase the airflow in areas where sweat tends to accumulate.

Like a fan, blowing excessively strong wind directly onto a baby's body can lower their body temperature, so these fans have been developed with an optimal wind strength to maintain a moderate body temperature.

It can be used with many child seats and strollers, and is a very popular product in Japan.

 

Is it effective in keeping children safe from the heat?

Flyto Sensei: Thank you. I also want to try it out because my daughter uses a stroller in some situations.

I said earlier that when it comes to heatstroke, it is important to consider the physical condition of the child and the environmental conditions. I think that strollers are a way to protect children from the sun when they are outside, so I thought it would be good if strollers had a cooling effect.

Also, rather than cooling a specific area, I think it's good that it cools a large area from the back to the buttocks, which I think will be more comfortable for the person.

 

airluv Sales Representative: We've heard from customers who have actually used it that their babies sweat less when in the stroller, and that they nap more often during the day.

 

Dr. Flyto: Yes, if excessive sweating is the first stage of heat stroke that I mentioned earlier, then if using your product makes you sweat less, then I think that it can be prevented to a certain extent.

I think that the heat in Japan is not just caused by the temperature, but also by the humidity, so I think that using airluv can be effective to a certain extent, especially in our hot and humid environment in East Asia.

 

airluv Sales Representative: Actually, we've heard some people express concern that if the device is used in a place where the temperature is above a certain level, it might actually raise the baby's body temperature like an electric fan. How do you interpret this?

 

Dr. Fraito: It is well known that fans do not cool the air itself, even from the American Academy of Pediatrics. In environments above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 32.2 degrees Celsius), they recommend that fans that blow air directly on the baby, such as electric fans, should not be used because they may actually increase body temperature.

#1. AAP. Exterme Extreme Heat: Tips to Keep Kids Safe When Temperatures Soar.healthy children.org (Last accessed on 2024/7/10)

On the other hand, we could not find any evidence that proves that products like yours, which do not directly hit the baby with a fan but instead circulate air around the entire back of the stroller, are dangerous. On the other hand, there is no evidence that they are definitely safe, but in humid countries like Japan, they can be used to circulate air on the surface of the stroller or inside the stroller, so I think they are an option.

 

airluv Sales Representative: I imagine that there are days in Japan where temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. What do you think about using our product, airluv, in such an environment?

 

Dr. Flyto: First of all, I would like to ask you to refrain from going out, but when the temperature rises above 40 degrees, the situation will be completely different depending on factors other than the airluv, such as the temperature of the surface that is in contact with the child and what clothes the child is wearing.

Although it is not good to use a fan that blows air directly on the skin, it may be effective to a certain extent if it circulates the air. It would be good if more evidence were to come out in the future.

 

airluv Sales Representative: Thank you very much. We have received positive feedback from customers saying that even in the heat of summer, having airluv changes how much they sweat and makes them feel cooler, so we believe that we are creating a good environment for babies.

 

What are some bad habits that can't protect children from the heat?

Dr. Flyto: In the case of extreme heat, it is important to stay hydrated before using airluv. It is also said that babies aged 3 to 4 months should drink breast milk rather than tea or water. Please drink plenty of water.

It is also important to wear light clothing. Highly absorbent materials can help evaporate sweat and cool your body temperature. It is also important to take breaks.

Leaving children in the car is also a big no-no. Just 10 minutes can cause the temperature to rise to over 40 degrees, putting the child's life at risk.

 

Professor Flyto: While you're here, do you have anything to say to the readers of "Professor Flyto's Newsletter"?

 

airluv Sales Representative: I learned a lot today. I hope that you will refrain from going outside when the temperature is too high and follow the precautions that the professor mentioned. However, in this hot summer, please make use of airluv when you need to go outside.

Even on non-scorching hot days, children in strollers are close to the ground and can get surprisingly hot without adults noticing, so we would appreciate it if you could take measures such as using airluv.

However, we cannot say for sure that having an air rub will ensure that you will not suffer from heatstroke.

When going out on hot days, we ask that parents always check their children's health and take appropriate measures, even though they can use convenient items.

 

*This article is a joint project and collaboration between Commerce Media Co., Ltd., the sole distributor of Poled in Japan, and theLetter (OutNow Co., Ltd.) with the aim of increasing awareness of "Flyto Sensei's Newsletter." There has been no monetary exchange or gifting of products between the three parties.