Toddlers and young children need outdoor activity for their physical and mental development, but high temperatures require particular caution. During the summer months, this balance often causes anxiety for parents. How long can children stay outside? How can I tell if they are alright? What should I avoid?
A growing health concern
Since the start of summer, Europe has recorded record temperatures, which have caused more than 10,000 additional deaths. Human-driven climate change is making heatwaves longer, more intense and more widespread.
This shift has made questions about protecting infants from heat more urgent, according to paediatrician Katherine Williamson from Rady Children's Health in California. "We used to talk to parents about the risk of drowning in water or choking on food for toddlers. Now we are starting to add heat to that list," she said. "It has become a potential risk to their health."
According to a recent analysis by UNICEF, more than 1.5 billion children worldwide are frequently exposed to intense and prolonged heatwaves. The UN agency also found that rising temperatures in Europe and Central Asia cause nearly 400 child deaths each year.
Why children are more vulnerable
Children are more vulnerable than adults to both the immediate and long-term effects of heat stress. They sweat less relative to their body weight and have a higher metabolic rate, meaning their bodies heat up faster in extreme temperatures.
On hot days, parents should watch closely for signs of heat exhaustion or dehydration. A lack of tears when a baby cries, or fewer wet nappies than usual, can be signs of dehydration. Offering smaller, more frequent feeds can help ensure the child takes in enough fluids.
While not necessarily a sign of illness, fatigue and flushed skin usually mean a child needs a break to cool down. Increased irritability can also indicate that a child is overheating, Williamson added.
Tips for protecting children
Experts recommend avoiding travel and activities during the hottest hours of the day, dressing children in loose, light-coloured clothing, using sunscreen, and ensuring adequate fluid intake. Fruits with high water content, such as watermelon and strawberries, make ideal snacks on hot days.
"If you're feeling hot, you can be certain your baby is too," said paediatrician Debra Langlois from the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. She emphasised that parents and caregivers should limit the time infants and toddlers spend outdoors during periods of intense heat, though this does not mean children need to stay indoors at all times.
Do not cover a pram with blankets or fabric
This guidance may sound counter-intuitive. Isn't it logical to shield children from the sun? However, blankets and any type of covering, even thin fabrics, block air circulation and trap heat, raising the temperature inside the pram.
Instead, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends using a thin, damp cloth, kept moist, combined with a portable fan for additional cooling.
Never leave children inside a hot car
Two children recently died inside a car during a heatwave in southern France.
The WHO warns that children should never be left inside a parked vehicle, even for a few minutes, as the temperature inside a car can rise very quickly to dangerous levels, even if the vehicle is parked in the shade with the windows open.
To cool an overheated car, experts recommend opening the windows for 10 to 20 seconds while running the air conditioning at the same time.
Source: Euronews
