Safe and Comfortable Temperatures and Clothing for Infants
Hypothermia
What is hypothermia? • Hypothermia occurs when the body gets cold and loses
heat faster than the body can make it.
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What can happen from hypothermia? • Emergency condition. • Can quickly lead to unconsciousness and death
if heat loss continues.
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Hypothermia
What are some symptoms of hypothermia? Adults: • Shivering violently. • Stumbling, confusion. • If treatment is not provided, shivering stops
and the body begins to shut down. • Weak pulse, shallow breathing. Infants: • Bright red, cold skin. • Listlessness.
Slide 4
Hypothermia
Why are infants at greater risk? • They have a larger body surface area to mass
ratio than adults, allowing greater heat loss. • They cannot produce as much heat as adults
through muscle activity. • They can’t make enough body heat by shivering.
Slide 5
Hypothermia
Precautions: • Keep rooms at a comfortably warm
temperature in winter months. • Keep infant in warm clothes during winter. • Dress infant appropriately if you must go outside –
avoid being outside in extreme cold or heat. • Never leave an infant in an unattended vehicle.
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Hypothermia
What is hyperthermia? • Hyperthermia occurs when a person‘s
body temperature produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. Body temperature rises and remains above the normal 98.6°F.
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Hyperthermia
What can happen from hyperthermia? • Emergency condition. • Heat-regulating mechanisms of the body
eventually become overwhelmed and unable to effectively deal with the heat, causing the body temperature to climb uncontrollably (heat stroke).
• Can lead to disability and death if heat continues. • Can be confused with fever due to illness. If infant
is exposed to high temperatures and becomes overheated, he/she may develop hyperthermia. Slide 8
Hyperthermia
What are some symptoms of infant hyperthermia? • Dry mouth or tongue • Few tears when crying • Few wet diapers (less than 6 a day) • Dark yellow or smelly urine • Sunken “soft spots,” eyes, or cheeks • Mottled, grayish, skin that’s cool to the touch • High fever • Listlessness
Slide 9
Hyperthermia
Why are infants at greater risk? • They are unable to tell someone they’re
hot/thirsty. • Their temperature-regulating systems
aren’t fully developed. • They have fewer sweat glands than adults, so
not as efficient as adults in keeping cool.
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Hyperthermia
Precautions: • Keep rooms at a comfortably cool
temperature during the summer. • Dress infants in cool clothing in hot
summer months. Use wide-brimmed hats in light colors if you take infant outside.
• Use sunscreen/sunblock on infant if outside. Avoid outdoors in extreme heat.
• Keep the infant hydrated during heat waves. • Never leave infant in an unattended car.
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Hyperthermia
Danger in the Unattended Vehicle • Prior to 1990-1992: 11 known deaths
of children from hyperthermia (extreme heat) in a vehicle.
• 1998-2011 close to 500 children died from being inside hot cars. 75% of them were less than 2 years old.
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Hyperthermia Stats by Year
Slide 13
Hyperthermia Stats by State
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Why the Increase? • Airbags became standard in most
cars by 1998, requiring infants and children to now sit in back seat.
• More than half of the deaths that occurred were due to the fact that the caregiver forgot the infant/child was back there.
• NOTE: This does not imply that we should not have airbags or that children should sit in the front seat.
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Hyperthermia Circumstances An examination of media reports about the 494 child vehicular hyperthermia deaths for a thirteen year period (1998 through 2010) shows the following circumstances:
• 51% - child "forgotten" by caregiver (253) • 30% - child playing in unattended vehicle (150) • 17% - child intentionally left in vehicle by adult (86) • 1% - circumstances unknown (5) Slide 16
Legal Implications • Although all states have laws against
endangering the welfare of a child, only 15 states presently have laws prohibiting leaving a child unattended in a car.
• Considered abuse/neglect and could result in criminal charges.
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Vehicle Heating Dynamics
Slide 18
Used with permission from : Department of Geosciences, San Francisco State University
Prevention
• NEVER leave an infant/child in a car – even for a minute!
• Place your purse/ briefcase/jacket in the backseat with the infant.
• Place a teddy bear in the front seat in a visible location to remind you that the infant is in the back seat.
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Good Environmental Temperatures • Home temperature – winter: 68°-72° F. • Home temperature – summer: 75°-78° F. • Don’t over bundle infant. • Dress infant in one extra layer than yourself. • Lightly clothed for sleep – so keep bedroom at comfortable
temperature for light clothing.
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Clothing Factors to Consider • Security and protection – infants
need to be clothed. • Comfort is most important. • Use size-appropriate clothing. • Soft, lightweight fabrics for moderate temperatures. • Knit fabrics = easy care. • All cotton and cotton blends = “breathability.”
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Other Clothing Factors to Consider • Check for ease of changing and safety. • Check care labels = hot water/dryer
eliminates bacteria. • Check labels for “flame resistant.” • Consider clothing colors:
– Dark = absorb heat and keep infant warmer – Light = reflect heat to keep infant cooler
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Safety and Clothing • Too many clothes/overbundling:
– Potential over heating – Potential heat rash
• Loose clothing: – Potential suffocation from infant getting wrapped up in it – Potential for catching on fire
• Snug fit – not tight. • No drawstrings. • Lightweight clothing and full coverage when outdoors for
sun protection. Sunscreen for exposed skin.
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Clothing Selection
• Hand me downs are fine. • Fewer clothes needed when small
due to fast growth. • Simple and functional design.
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Dressing an Infant and PIES
• Physical Development – Appropriate clothing = health, safety, comfort, security – Exercise and later cooperating with changing – Physical stimulation – Prevent diaper rash
• Intellectual Development – Talking = language development – Routines important: Sleeper → daytime clothing and back – Positive parenting and bonding = brain development
When a child is comfortable and secure with appropriate clothing, physical, intellectual, emotional and social development is stimulated.
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Dressing an Infant and PIES – continued • Emotional
– Calming aspect to feeling clean – Bonding = positive emotional development
• Social – Talking /singing during the process = enhanced brain
development and bonding – Regular routine for social interaction – Positive physical and verbal = good parent/child socialization – Cooperation through parenting modeling
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Review Scenario 1: 20 month old Luke has bright red skin, cold to the touch. He has been riding in an unheated car for 30 minutes. Outside temperature is 35°.
Scenario 2: 4 year old Michelle has been playing in the family car in the driveway. Windows are rolled down. Outside temperature is 85°.
Scenario 3: 3 month old Jose has been left in his infant seat in the back seat of the car. Windows are rolled up. Outside temperature is 75°.
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Safe and�Comfortable�Temperatures�and Clothing�for InfantsHypothermiaSlide Number 3Slide Number 4Slide Number 5Slide Number 6Slide Number 7HyperthermiaHyperthermiaHyperthermiaHyperthermiaDanger in the�Unattended VehicleHyperthermia�Stats by YearHyperthermia�Stats by StateWhy the Increase?Hyperthermia�CircumstancesLegal�ImplicationsVehicle�Heating DynamicsPreventionGood�Environmental�TemperaturesClothing�Factors to ConsiderOther Clothing�Factors to ConsiderSafety�and ClothingClothing�SelectionDressing an�Infant and PIESDressing an�Infant and PIES�– continued Review
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