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Doha, Qatar: As summer temperatures soar in Qatar, children can move from playing outdoors to becoming seriously unwell in a matter of minutes, with dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke among the risks parents need to recognise early, according to Chair of Pediatric Medicine at Sidra Medicine, Dr. Ahmed Al Hammadi.
Children are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat because their bodies generate more heat during physical activity and are less efficient than adults at regulating body temperature. Infants and young children face an even greater risk because they depend on adults to ensure they remain hydrated, appropriately dressed and protected from prolonged heat exposure.
“The most common conditions we see include dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and, in more severe cases, heat stroke,” Dr Al Hammadi told The Peninsula.
While most heat-related illnesses are preventable, he stressed that parents should not wait for children to complain of thirst before offering fluids. “The habit worth building is steady drinking throughout the day rather than waiting for thirst, because by the time a child feels thirsty, dehydration has already begun,” he said.
Early signs of dehydration include thirst, dry lips and mouth, reduced and darker urine, and low energy. In babies, parents may notice fewer wet nappies, while young children may become irritable or suddenly lose interest in eating and drinking. As dehydration worsens, children can develop lethargy, sunken eyes, few or no tears when crying and difficulty being roused.
One of the most important distinctions for parents is knowing the difference between heat exhaustion and potentially life-threatening heat stroke.
A child experiencing heat exhaustion will typically remain responsive but may be very thirsty, tired, dizzy or nauseated, with heavy sweating and cool, clammy skin.
Heat stroke is much more serious and occurs when the body loses its ability to regulate its temperature. Warning signs include confusion, unusual drowsiness, seizures or loss of consciousness. The child may stop sweating and develop hot, dry skin.
“My guidance is simple: if a child is confused or not behaving like themselves after time in the heat, treat it as an emergency immediately,” Dr Al Hammadi said.
Parents should seek medical attention if a child is unable to keep fluids down because of persistent vomiting, shows signs of moderate to severe dehydration, develops a persistent fever following heat exposure, or fails to improve after being moved to a cool environment and given fluids.
Emergency medical care is required without delay if a child becomes faint or extremely tired, is unusually sleepy or difficult to wake, becomes confused or loses coordination, develops a severe headache, breathes faster or deeper than normal, has a seizure or loses consciousness.
“At Sidra Medicine, we encourage parents to trust their instincts,” Dr Al Hammadi said. “If a child looks seriously unwell or is deteriorating despite home measures, it is always safer to seek help.”
Heat is not the only summer danger. Swimming pools, beaches and other bodies of water can present serious risks, particularly when children are not under direct adult supervision.
“A young child should never be alone in or near water even for a few seconds, and whether they can swim makes little difference to that rule,” Dr Al Hammadi said, stressing that drowning can happen silently and quickly.
He advised parents to ensure children swim only in designated areas with appropriate supervision. Properly fitted life jackets should be used when children are boating or taking part in water sports, while age-appropriate swimming lessons can form part of a broader approach to water safety. Inflatable toys, armbands and other flotation devices should never be treated as replacements for a life jacket or direct adult supervision.
Sun protection is another essential part of summer safety. For infants under six months, Dr Al Hammadi recommends relying on shade, protective clothing and hats rather than routine sunscreen use.
For children aged six months and older, he recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin. Mineral-based formulations containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide may be particularly suitable for children with sensitive skin.
Sunscreen should be applied 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied every two hours, as well as after swimming or heavy sweating.
However, sunscreen should complement rather than replace other protective measures such as shade and appropriate clothing.
“Hydration is not optional; sunscreen is not cosmetic, and supervision around water is not negotiable,” Dr Al Hammadi said.
He urged families to make fluids, shade, protective clothing and sunscreen part of their daily summer routine, while learning to recognise the early signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
“These are not small details; they are life-saving habits,” he said. “By practising them consistently, we can ensure that summer remains a season of play and growth, not of preventable tragedy.”
