'BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT' BREAKFAST EVENT REPORT

Last month we held one of our popular Free Breakfast Events for mothers, with the theme ‘Beat the Summer Heat!’ Sponsored by Babyshop, WaterWipes and Al Ain Farms, the event was held at Bounty Beets Restaurant at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi, in Dubai Marina.

SUMMER HEALTH RISKS

After a welcome introduction from host Kay Marham, the event started with a presentation from Dr Wafaa Faysal, Consultant Paediatrician HoD from Medcare Medical Centers. Dr Wafaa detailed many of the health risks and hazards to babies and young children associated with the soaring temperatures of the summer months. These included:

Pool safety 

✓ If you have young children with you, make sure you choose a pool with a safety fence around it

✓ Give your child swimming lessons from the earliest age possible

✓ Keep toys out of the pool when they’re not in use

✓ Do not allow children with diarrhoea into the pool

✓ Do not take your eyes off your child even for a second - that’s all it takes to invite a catastrophe

Sun safety

✓ Avoid the summer sun from 10am until 4pm

✓ When in the sun, seek shade

✓ Make your children wear a hat and sunglasses

✓ Apply and reapply sunscreen of SPF 20 or higher

Never leave children in cars

✓ Even if you are nipping into a shop or busy petrol station, never leave your children sitting in the car, not even for a very short time

✓ The temperatures in the summer heat mean that your child could overheat in a matter of minutes

Dehydration

✓ Get your children to drink plenty of water all day

✓ Give them foods with a high water content, such as chilled watermelon, cucumber sticks and natural fruit juice ice pops

Know sunburn symptoms

✓ Your child’s skin might become itchy