As noted in our last blog post on summer safety, children face serious danger during outdoor play when the heat index reaches 90 °F or higher.  Such heat poses elevated risk for children, according to the National Weather Service.  Here's why:

• ​Children spend more time outside than adults
• Children breathe more air in relation to their body weight than adults, and they are closer to the ground where some pollution settles
• Children can't get away from extreme heat and pollution and may depend on adults to drink fluids, change clothes or go to a cooler place

Recent research also underscores the compounding effects of heat and air pollution on children’s health—worsening asthma, allergy symptoms, and long-term learning and respiratory outcomes (see the AAP 2024 resources below)

In our July 2023 blog post, I talked about water, heat, and sun safety.  Here's a brief summary of risk areas and key tips:

• Drowning: Never leave children unattended 
• Heat-related illness: Hydrate, rest, dress lightly, cool off with water
• Sun exposure: Cover up, avoid peak hours, use sunscreen, hats, sunglasses
• Hot-car danger: Never leave children in a vehicle or unattended where they might access one

Today I'd like to share some updates concerning heat, pollution and climate, as well as additional information on and tips for preventing hot-car deaths.

​When children are exposed to dangerous heat waves and longer, hotter summers, they are at risk because:
-Extra heat and sunlight create ground-level ozone, which causes asthma.
-Heat can worsen local air pollution by contributing to smog.
-Prolonged warm seasons and more carbon dioxide in the air lead to a longer, more intense pollen allergy season.
-More intense and frequent droughts create more dust in the air and affect water supplies that people use to stay cool in the extreme heat.
-More wildfires make air pollution worse.

The changing climate with its more frequent extreme weather events and air pollution exacerbate heat risks.
Heatwaves and poor air quality frequently go hand in hand. Increased heat promotes smog and longer pollen seasons, which can exacerbate asthma and respiratory conditions in children (AAP, 2024) 
​
What can help:

• Ensure children at risk dress appropriately, take break, drinks lots of water, and are allowed time to get used to the temperature
• Monitor your area’s Air Quality Index (AQI), and adjust plans for outdoor play accordingly
• Families, childcare programs and schools can work together to provide healthy policies for all children concerning heat and outdoor play
• Talk with your pediatrician if your child is taking any medications; some heighten risk of heat illness
• Incorporate clean-air filters into your home's, program's or school's HVAC systems
• Advocate for greener transportation and local tree planting in your community

Follow the ACT protocol:

• Avoid leaving a child unattended
• Create reminders—put phone, purse, or shoe in back seat as a visual trigger
• Take immediate action—call 911 if you see a child alone in a car (AP 2025)

Summertime should be full of laughter, play, and sunshine—not worry. By staying informed, being proactive, and sharing safety information with families, we can help every child enjoy a safe, comfortable, and healthy summer!

Safety is always the priority when caring for young children!

In this post we're sharing information and tips for keeping children safe this summer - around water, in the heat, and in the sun. 

​We want everyone to enjoy the summer safely!

Here are some tips from the National Safety Council for keeping children safe around water:

Here are two Texas charities I've found.  Sadly, both were formed after a young child drowned:

• Colin's Hope - "teaches parents, caregivers and children about water safety to prevent drowning"​
• Judah Brown Project  - offers survival swimming lessons to needy children and life-saving education to families

Check out their websites, or find another charity in your area.  We hope you can both get support from and provide support to these organizations.
​
Together, let’s save lives!

Here are 7 sun safety tips for you from the American Academy of Pediatrics, through the website healthychildren.org:
​
-Keep infants under 6 months old out of the sun
-Dress children in lightweight clothes with a tight weave that cover the body
-Have kids wear wide-brim hats
-Stay out of the sun between 10am and 4pm
-Provide youth sunglasses with 99% UV protection
-Use sunscreen, reapplying every 2 hours
-Model sun safety for kids

Here are some ways to keep children safe on hot days, also from healthychildren.org:

1. Hydrate! Make sure water is available and encourage children to drink water often, especially during outside play. 
2. Take frequent water, cooling and rest breaks.
3. Play in the shade where temperatures are slightly cooler, and plan outdoor play during cooler hours.
4. Dress in light colored (reflects sun and heat) and loose fitting clothing (provides a layer of protection and ventilation.)
5. When the temperature is too high to safely play outside, try active indoor activities like a “dance party”

Lastly, here’s one more important heat safety fact: “Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, about three kids die each week in hot cars,” according to the National Safety Council.  “Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles can reach life-threatening levels. Leaving windows slightly open doesn't help. Children should never be left unattended or be able to get inside a vehicle.”
See the page “Kids in Hot Cars: One Child is Too Many​” on their website for more info.  The NSC also has free resources you can share with your program’s families.

Healthychildren.org. (2023, July 26).  Extreme heat: Tips to keep kids safe when temperatures soar. American Academy of Pediatrics.  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Protecting-Children-from-Extreme-Heat-Information-for-Parents.aspx​

Healthychildren.org. (2023, November 20).  Sun safety: Information for parents about sunburn & sunscreen. American Academy of Pediatrics.  https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Sun-Safety.aspx

National Safety Council. (n.d.).  Drowning can happen in an instant.  https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/drowning

National Safety Council. (n.d.).  Kids in hot cars: One child is too many.  https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/seasonal-safety/summer-safety/heat