Air conditioning is a tool that can help the little ones in periods of great heat. However, its use requires some precautions, in compliance with children and the environment
Every time the summer returns, in addition to the first hot ones, the doubts related to the season appear. The Ministry of Health underlines the dangers of the high temperatures for the children, more exposed to adults to hyperthermia and dehydration for their reduced body surface, with possible harmful consequences on the cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological system. How to help them find their own balance when external temperatures are difficult to bear? For example theAir conditioning, for babies and childrenis it a valid ally or an enemy? Let’s find out together.
Air conditioning and babies: what precautions?
THE’Air conditioning is bad for babies? We are talking about comfort present in most of the places we attend (home, cars, shops, restaurants, etc.) and it is therefore difficult not to meet him. Choosing to use it implies awareness. When it’s hot, Can air conditioning with babies be used? The answer is affirmative: Air conditioning helps the newborn to regulate its body temperature, avoiding the risk of overheating and dehydration.
Its use, however, needs to Some precautions. First of all, it is important that the right operating temperature is maintained, in order to reach the 24 ° about during the day and 25 °/26 ° during the night. In addition, the cold air must be prevented directly from the newborn, directing the slits of the split upwards, and it is essential to keep the system efficiency with regular maintenance. As a complication of the use of implants not adequately clean, in fact, there is the onset of respiratory problems and allergies. For this the annual control of devices With cleaning of the filters is strongly recommended. In case of daily use, the hygiene of the split of the house requires attention at least once every 15 days. Finally, it is a good practice to help the premises when the air conditioner is not in operation.
Children and air conditioning: what to do?
Children find the same benefits of infants in the air conditioning. The air conditioner helps the little ones a Supervise the heat with greater of the hottest days and to rest better at night, even in the presence of asthmatic pathologies. In fact, the filters purify the air introduced by any allergens.
In addition, some air conditioners have the function of filter Not only pollen but also other harmful substances, such as pollutants, viruses and bacteria, favoring the health of the air you breathe.
It is essential to guarantee the correct maintenance of the system in order to avoid, on the contrary, the proliferation of some bacterial species. An example is the legionella, bacterium capable of multiplying in the water at the optimal temperature of 25 ° -45 ° and whose transmission occurs by inhalation of contaminated aerosopilized water. Albeit rare in pediatric age, the legionellosis It can determine severe respiratory problems in children with compromised immune defenses (for example, small affected by immunodeficiency, neoplasms, chronic corticosteroid therapy, organ transplantation, basic lung disease).
Therefore, it is necessary to take care of the air conditioners in use, paying attention to the possible presence of stagnationto incrustations or limestone deposits, external tanks or cooling towers where water can accumulate, wear and the low hygienic conditions of the filters and other components of the systems. In short, one correct maintenance It is the preventive strategy to pursue.
What if it’s hot and the child has a fever? In this case, air conditioning helps to reduce body temperature and its use improves the well -being of children. The main precautions remain the need to avoid the jet of cold air direct on the child and the risk of exposing the baby to temperature changes sudden.
Does air conditioning make the little ones sick?
“Here, we used the air conditioning and the fever came to him …”. The use of the air conditioner is often associated with the appearance of complications such as coughing, colds or, in fact, an increase in body temperature, but these possibilities are only following a incorrect use of the instrument. Conversely, conscious and not excessive use (also for respect for the environment) and that adopts the right precautions means that the benefits exceed the risks.
The precautions to be adopted for i children they are the same as a correct use of air conditioning for infants, namely:
- Ensure an ideal temperaturearound 24 ° C during the day and slightly higher than night (25 °/26 °). In case of exposure to lower temperatures, the baby can face cooling and malaise. In case of higher temperatures, hyperthermia and dehydration risk.
- Dehumidify the environmentreaching an ideal humidity of about 50%. The dehumidification function helps to improve and maintain environmental well -being, avoiding excessive temperature reductions. Greater dehumidification determines dryness of the air and promotes the onset of respiratory disorders; Conversely, an excessively humid environment hosts the proliferation of molds, responsible for allergies and respiratory problems.
- Avoid direct exposure of the baby to the flow of cold air from the air conditioner. In this case, there is a risk of the onset of malaise and ailments, such as cough and riucendine.
- Avoid excessive temperature changes. Children struggle to quickly adapt to sudden temperature variations, for thermoregulation mechanisms not yet completely efficient, so it is essential to adopt strategies that gradually train their small organisms to temperature changes. For example, in the car it is good practice to turn off the air conditioning a few minutes before leaving the child down; On the contrary, before climbing by car, it is important to evaluate the temperature of the passenger compartment, the seat and its buckles, opening the windows and activating the air conditioner before bringing the child back on board.
- Guarantee careful maintenance. With the passage of time, the air conditioner can host bacteria (such as legionella) or mushrooms inside, which can disperse and spread in the environment determining important respiratory diseases, such as asthma, bronchitis, allergies. It is essential to carry out regular maintenance and proceed with a periodic replacement and cleaning of the filters, according to the provisions in the maintenance booklet of the appliance.
- Encourage the ventilation of the premises. When the air conditioning is not in operation, it is important to regularly use the rooms by opening the windows, especially in the evening when the climate is fresher.
The Excessive heat is not a danger If faced with the right tools: air conditioning is an ally of young and old, just use it!
