Play It Safe: Protecting Bahrain’s Kids from the Summer Heat | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Play It Safe: Protecting Bahrain’s Kids from the Summer Heat | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

TDT | Manama     
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Report by Zahra Ayaz
Playing and exercising outdoors is known to have numerous benefits for children’s health, but according to a prominent paediatrician, high temperatures and extreme heat can pose serious health risks to children.
Dr. Jofrelyn Bistoyong, a specialist paediatrician at Bahrain Specialist Hospital, highlighted the dangers of heat-related illnesses and emphasised the need for heat protection resources for children.
Dr. Bistoyong pointed out three key reasons why heat can cause more health problems for children.
Firstly, children tend to spend more time outdoors, engaging in physical activities and games, especially during the summer months.
While outdoor time is beneficial, it also increases their vulnerability to heat-related illnesses.
“Children are growing and developing, and their respiratory systems are not as efficient as adults’,” explained Dr. Bistoyong.
“They breathe faster and inhale a larger amount of air relative to their body weight.
Additionally, they breathe closer to the ground, where pollutants often settle, further exacerbating their risk.”
Furthermore, children rely on others to control their environment and take necessary precautions.
Unlike adults, they may not have the ability to change their surroundings or clothing to avoid extreme heat.
Infants, in particular, are at a heightened risk as they are unable to regulate their environment or stay hydrated without