
Lifestyle South Florida Parenting Health

Playing in the sun: How long is too long?

Q: It’s really hot out, and my 7-year-old son loves playing outside. He drinks plenty of water, so I’m not worried about dehydration, but I am concerned that too much time in the sun could be bad for him. How long can he play outside before he needs to come in for a break?

A: Having your son drink plenty of water is the right thing to start with. Kids usually do not need sports drinks unless they are sweating for an hour or more. Sure, the body loses some electrolytes, but if he is not sweating for extended periods of time, his body can adjust. Now, when your son is 17 rather than 7 and is playing football in full pads for two hours in the hot sun, an electrolyte-filled sports drink will be a good idea.


More importantly, you have to be wary of skin that is hot and red but dry, as well as strange behavior, confusion, vomiting or refusing water. These are late signs that the body’s cooling mechanisms are overwhelmed and mean that you now have a medical emergency called heatstroke or sunstroke. At this point, call 911, or your local emergency number.



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