BOISE, Idaho — With Idaho’s triple-digit temperatures, kids are also feeling the effects. While they want to be outside and play, they might not know how to take care of themselves and keep themselves safe.
Boise Parks and Recreation said one of their main priorities is keeping kids safe amid their summer camps and programs.
“They seem to roll with it pretty easily,” said Doug Holloway, director of Parks and Recreation. “But that is also a danger in that they may not know when they need to be out of the sun.”
Boise Parks and Recreation said it's program their activities accordingly and moves indoors if need be. They also make sure all kids have water breaks every 30 minutes, that there are misters in all park locations and that they keep kids in shaded locations if they can.
“We get all our outdoor activity done in the early morning, and then once afternoon rolls around, each of those play camps moves into an indoor site,” Holloway said.
If parents don’t feel comfortable, they don’t have to send their kids, but Holloway said they will keep all kids safe – as that is their main priority.
“By sending them we are telling them we'll keep them safe,” Holloway said. “We'll keep them secure. And we'll make sure that the sun isn't a problem for the children.”
If the air quality reaches unhealthy levels, summer programs will also be moved inside.
“Just like we do with the heat, we will alternate whether we need to be indoors all day or whether we need to be indoors for half a day,” Holloway said. “But we monitor the air quality and make sure that our kids aren't out in unsafe environments.”
St. Luke’s pediatrician Sara Swoboda told KTVB Thursday that parents should watch their kids for excessive sweating or excessive flushing, and make sure their energy levels aren’t significantly dropping. If they are noticing concerning symptoms that could be related to heat-related illness, Swoboda said to call your child’s doctor immediately to discuss symptoms with a professional.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.