Keeping your kids safe - Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather Sports

Keeping your kids safe

According to SafeKids.org, a child can die from heat stroke on a 72 degree day.

Some symptoms of heat illness include headaches, a flushed feeling and vomiting. If not treated, heat illness can very quickly turn into heat stroke in which the person loses consciousness and could possibly die.

To prevent heat illness or exhaustion, doctors urge parents to never leave children alone in a hot car or house. Doctor Elrod of Lima Memorial Hospital says younger children are especially susceptible to heat illness.

"For the younger children, we have to watch out for them. They can't control their environment. Younger children, infants, they don't sweat like we sweat either. So that's an important mechanism that we use to cool ourselves off, " said Elrod.

In addition to avoiding hot places, Doctor Elrod says dressing children in loose-fitting clothing can help prevent heat illness.