NPR

Here's how you can help kids stay healthy if they play outside in a heat wave

Little kids are like a "small potato" whose core can heat up faster than an adult's, an expert tells NPR. Here are tips for helping children stay safe in extreme temperatures.
A summer of extreme heat is raising alarms of health risks. Here, a child plays in a waterfall feature at Yards Park in Washington, D.C., on June 26.

Extreme heat poses health risks to everyone — and it's a unique challenge for kids who love to be outdoors in summertime. Small children can be especially at risk in the heat, but experts say they can still play safely — if grownups follow a few guidelines.

Extreme temperatures can cause dangerous stress to the heart, kidneys and other organs, and humidity and dehydration can compound the risks. People can also sustain burns from pavement and other surfaces — including playground equipment.

Several factors put children at risk from heat, from physical characteristics to the likelihood that they're not attuned to notice signs

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min read
Biden Ending New Leases In America's Top Coal Region
Citing climate change, federal land managers are moving to end new leasing for coal in the country's top producing region.
NPR2 min read
Newly Surfaced Video Shows Apparent Assault By Sean Combs Like Claims In Settled Case
On Friday, CNN published footage that appears to show the hip-hop mogul, also known as P. Diddy, physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
NPR2 min read
At Least 4 People Are Killed In Houston After A Severe Thunderstorm Passed Through
Across the city, power lines and trees are downed, traffic lights are out and glass is scattered across downtown. About 900,000 customers were left without power early Friday.

Related Books & Audiobooks