If a child has these symptoms, call for emergency help while you cool the child. Move the child to a cool place, and place cloths with cool water on his head and body. If the child is awake, provide sips of cool water or juice. Be safe, not sorry, by preventing heat conditions. Encourage children to drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after outdoor play.
Cold water is the best and most economical fluid to drink to keep a person hydrated.
Most children need six to eight cups of liquid each day to replace the water their bodies lose normally. On hot, humid days children who are very active outdoors will need even more water. Encourage them to drink more than they think they need. Many sports drinks include minerals such as sodium and potassium. These minerals are easily obtained from food, so it is not necessary to provide such drinks for children.