Temperatures are unprecedentedly high in Ireland at the moment, which means there are a few situations that mums and dads need to be aware of when it comes to keeping little ones safe and well in the heat.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two well-known risks of spending time outdoors in the sun, but one doctor has pointed out three more potential incidents that are more likely to arise during the hot weather.
RELATED: The heatwave hack every family needs to know as temperatures soar in Ireland
Mum makes ‘shocking’ discovery after child accidentally leaves water bottle in car
Dr Shruti Nathwani took to social media to spread awareness around some summer safety reminders for busy parents after making a shocking discovery with her own child.
The NHS GP began: ‘Left my child’s water bottle in the car in the shade… and what happened next genuinely shocked me…’
Before revealing her shocking find, the mum warned parents to always check metal and dark plastic slides when visiting playgrounds with their children, as they can ‘become hot enough to cause burns’.
Another place burns can occur during summer is inside hot cars, Dr Shruti: ‘Check the car seat-metal buckles [as they] can become painfully hot’.
Mum makes ‘shocking’ discovery after child accidentally leaves water bottle in car
Based on experience, Dr Shruti’s final tip is to always ‘check the temperature of water inside a water bottle left in the car’.
Explaining what happened with her own child after they had left a water bottle inside the family car.
The mum-of-two recalled: ‘Luckily I poured the water onto my hand first to check the temperature, but it would have been far too hot to drink and it was left in the shade in the car for only 15 minutes.
On hot days, surfaces such as slides, seat belt buckles and even the water inside a child’s bottle can become much hotter than you’d expect. It only takes a few seconds to check, but it could save your child from a burn.’
Parents thanked the GP for her tips, with one person writing: ‘In the summer we keep a towel in the car to cover my son’s car seat to stop the seat and buckles being hot when he gets in’.
Another suggested: ‘And the garden hose! The water comes out really hot sometimes!’
***Disclaimer: This post is not medical advice. Please contact your GP if you have any medical concerns.
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