Safe and Comfortable Temperatures and Clothing for Infants - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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.

Slide 3

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.

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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.

Slide 6

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

• verheated, he/she may develop hyperthermia.

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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

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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
• f 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

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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
• ccurred 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)

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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.

Slide 24

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

Slide 26

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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