THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 22, 1995 TAG: 9507220244
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Twenty-six children were taken to local hospitals Friday after some developed heat exhaustion at a YMCA summer camp in Norfolk. The children, all members of the Indian River Branch YMCA in Chesapeake, were released Friday evening.
``Many of them were alert when they came in. They knew where they were. They were mostly scared,'' said Dr. Faiqa Qureshi, emergency room physician at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.
``Some complained of dizziness, nausea, headache.''
Nineteen of the children were taken to Children's Hospital. Five were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and two to DePaul Medical Center.
Not all the children were overcome by heat. Some were taken to the hospitals as a precaution.
The children, ages 8 to 13, began complaining of symptoms about 3 p.m. Friday, after closing ceremonies of the YMCA's annual Camp Olympics at Maury High School.
Billy George, vice president of YMCA of South Hampton Roads, said some of the kids complained of dizziness while boarding a bus to go home as a storm was approaching.
``It was the heat, and the thunderstorm, I believe, scared some of the kids,'' George said.
``One child felt dizzy, a little lightheaded, and it was a chain reaction.''
Frank Taylor, 10, was treated at Children's Hospital and released within two hours.
``I began to feel nauseous. I was scared,'' Taylor said, shortly after leaving the emergency room. ``I guess with the day and the humidity. . . . We were running around a lot, all day.''
Friday's Camp Olympics included 1,200 kids from eight local YMCA branches. The children participated in various indoor and outdoor athletic activities.
George said YMCA counselors took precautions to try to prevent what happened.
``There was unlimited water,'' George said. ``Half of the games were held inside where it was air-conditioned. We moved the kids back and forth.''
Qureshi said parents should monitor their children for symptoms of heat exhaustion when they play in such hot temperatures.
``You need to get the kids plenty of fluids and allow them to rest frequently,'' Qureshi said. ``If they complain of thirst, dizziness, headaches, bring them in to cool down, do not stay out and do that same activity.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by CHRISTOPHER REDDICK, Staff
Frank Taylor, 10, was taken with about 18 other children to
Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters after some developed
heat exhaustion while playing at YMCA's Camp Olympics.
by CNB