How Extreme Heat Impacts Children

Summers are getting hotter — and the public health risks of extreme heat, particularly to children and other vulnerable populations, are rising.

According to researchers, “Summer temperatures on average have increased 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit across the country.” U.S. cities on average also saw 19.5 additional “very hot days” per summer, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses and hospitalizations, note Noreen O'Donnell and Annetta Stogniew in an article for NBC Los Angeles.

For children, the risks are exacerbated. “Infants and young children sweat less and are unable to regulate their core body temperature as well as adults.” Playgrounds are not always built with materials designed to withstand heat and prevent burns. “A 2024 paper from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University notes that excessive heat threatens a child’s development through too little learning, too little sleep and assaults their mental and behavioral health at a time when the effects can be long lasting.” Meanwhile, older children such as high school athletes face increased risk of heatstroke and other illnesses during practices and games. 

Nonprofit Climate Central recommends that parents monitor weather forecasts and avoid outdoor activities at the hottest times of the day, check playground surfaces to make sure they’re not too hot, and ensure that their kids drink enough water. They can also advocate for policies that limit heat-inducing emissions and provide shade infrastructure in communities and public spaces.