Shielding Children from Heat Waves: A Health Priority
As climate change accelerates, the occurrence and intensity of heat waves are rising globally, posing significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations like children. Understanding the impact heat waves has on children is crucial for devising strategies to protect their health and well-being.
Why Are Children More Vulnerable?
Children are particularly susceptible to heat waves due to several physiological and behavioral factors:
Higher Heat Production: Children generate more heat per kilogram of body weight than adults, increasing their susceptibility to heat stress [1].
Lower Sweat Production: Their bodies are less efficient at sweating, a primary cooling mechanism [2,3].
Greater Surface Area-to-Mass Ratio: This leads to quicker heat absorption from the environment [2,3].
Developing Bodily Systems: Children's thermoregulatory systems are not fully developed, making it harder for them to cope with extreme temperatures [1].
Infants are Most Vulnerable
Infants, especially those born preterm, face heightened risks during heat waves, with increased chances of adverse health outcomes and emergency department visits [4]. Preterm infants face unique challenges due to their underdeveloped thermoregulation, lower body fat and increased surface area-to-weight ratio compared to their term counterparts.
Immediate Health Effects
During heat waves, children can suffer from several acute health issues:
Dehydration: Children can dehydrate faster due to higher body water content [1].
Heat-Related Illnesses: Conditions like heat exhaustion, cramps, and heatstroke can be life-threatening [1].
Respiratory Issues: High temperatures can worsen respiratory conditions like asthma [1].
Renal Diseases: Heat stress and fluid loss can lead to kidney stones and urolithiasis [5,6].
Long-Term Health Implications
The long-term effects of heat exposure during childhood can be profound:
Cognitive and Developmental Impacts: Extreme heat can impair cognitive functions, leading to learning difficulties, and reduced academic performance [2,7].
Existing Mental Health Conditions: Heat stress can worse existing mental health conditions and contribute to new ones [6,8].
Disruption of Daily Activities: Heat waves can reduce school attendance and outdoor play, essential for social development and physical health [2,7].
Chronic Health Conditions: Prolonged heat exposure increases the risk of chronic conditions like cardiovascular diseases and kidney problems [1].
Mental Health: Heat stress can lead to anxiety and depression [9].
Social and Environmental Impacts: In low-income regions, heat waves can worsen food and water scarcity, affecting nutrition and increasing displacement risks [2,10].
Mental Health Impacts
Prolonged heat exposure can have adverse effects on children’s mental health:
Increased Stress and Anxiety: High temperatures heighten stress levels, exacerbating existing mental health issues like anxiety and depression [9,11,12].
Sleep Disruption: Heat waves can lead to poor sleep quality, increasing irritability and emotional challenges [13-15].
Exacerbation of Mental Disorders: Children with pre-existing mental health conditions may experience worsened symptoms [9,11,12].
Irritability and Behavioral Changes: Extreme heat can affect social interactions and overall mental well-being [9,11,12].
Cognitive Development Impacts
The long-term impact of health exposure on children’s cognitive development is complex and multi-dimensional:
Educational Disruptions: Heat waves can decrease school attendance and impair cognitive performance, affecting long-term educational attainment [7,8,11,16].
Impact on Early Childhood Development: Extreme heat can affect brain development processes, leading to long-term cognitive challenges [9,11,12].
Hindrance in Daily Cognitive Tasks: High temperatures can impair cognitive functions, causing frustration and mental strain [9,11,12].
Disruption of sleep quality: High temperatures lead to reduced total sleep time, fragmented sleep, and delayed sleep onset, affecting emotional regulation and increasing stress levels [14,15].
Socioeconomic and Environmental Factors
Prolonged heat exposure affects a wide range of socioeconomic and environmental factors:
Vulnerability Based on Socioeconomic Status: Children from low-income families or regions are disproportionately affected due to limited access to resources like air conditioning and healthcare [9,17].
Environmental Degradation: Heat waves often coincide with other environmental stressors, such as wildfires and droughts, compounding their effects on children's health [17l].
Disparities in Impact
Not all children are affected equally by heat waves. Socioeconomic factors significantly influence a child's vulnerability:
Access to Cooling: Children in low-income families may lack access to air conditioning or other cooling methods, increasing their risk during heat waves [10].
Urban Heat Islands: Children living in urban areas, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, are more likely to experience higher temperatures due to the urban heat island effect [18,19].
Protective Measures and Adaptation Strategies
To mitigate the adverse effects of heat waves on children, several strategies can be implemented:
Hydration and Cooling: Ensuring children stay hydrated and have access to cool environments is critical during heat waves.
Building Design and Materials: Schools can use reflective roofing materials and lighter-colored surfaces to reduce heat absorption. Planting trees around school buildings can provide natural shade and help cool the surrounding air.
Cooling Centers: Designating specific areas within the school as cooling centers where students can go to cool down during breaks can help manage heat exposure.
Scheduling adjustments: During extreme heat, schools can implement half-days or adjust schedules to avoid the hottest parts of the day. This approach helps minimize heat exposure while maintaining instructional time. Allowing flexibility in scheduling exams during cooler parts of the day can help improve student performance on assessments.
Education and Awareness: Educating caregivers and communities about the risks of heat waves and how to protect children can significantly reduce health impacts.
Policy Interventions: Governments can invest in infrastructure to reduce heat exposure, such as green spaces and improved building designs.
Conclusion
As climate change drives more frequent and severe heat waves, addressing the children’s unique vulnerabilities is essential. Implementing targeted strategies and policies can protect children's health and ensure their well-being in a warming world. The time to act is now, as the impacts of inaction will only grow more severe with time.
References
[1] Heat stroke in children - UpToDate
[2] Niamh, McCarville. "(1) 780 The Impact of Heatwaves on Child Health." undefined (2023). doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-rcpch.468.
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[4] Anaïs, Teyton., Allan, Ndovu., Rebecca, J., Baer., Gretchen, Bandoli., Tarik, Benmarhnia. "(6) Disparities in the impact of heat wave definitions on emergency department visits during the first year of life among preterm and full-term infants in California." Environmental Research, undefined (2023). doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118299.
[5] Youngrin, Kwag., Eun-Hee, Ha. "(5) The impact of heat waves on children’s kidney health: Systematic review and meta-analysis." Environmental health perspectives, undefined (2022). doi: 10.1289/isee.2022.p-0426.
[6] Clare, Faurie. "(8) Increased temperatures and child health outcomes: a systematic review." European Journal of Public Health, undefined (2023). doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad160.1161.
[7] Betty, Lala., Aya, Hagishima. "(3) Impact of Escalating Heat Waves on Students’ Well-Being and Overall Health: A Survey of Primary School Teachers." Climate, undefined (2023). doi: 10.3390/cli11060126.
[8] Suresh, Kishanrao. "(2) Extremes of Weather Conditions and Child Health." Open journal of pediatrics and child health, undefined (2024). doi: 10.17352/ojpch.000058.
[9] Perera, Frederica, Children's Health and the Peril of Climate Change (New York, 2022; online edn, Oxford Academic, 17 Nov. 2022), https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197588161.001.0001, accessed 16 Aug. 2024.
[10] Wim, Thiery., ogbodo. "(7) Children disproportionally exposed to attributable heatwaves at low-latitude low-income countries." undefined (2023). doi: 10.5194/egusphere-egu23-7528
[11] Rony MKK, Alamgir HM. High temperatures on mental health: Recognizing the association and the need for proactive strategies-A perspective. Health Sci Rep. 2023 Dec 4;6(12):e1729. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.1729. PMID: 38059052; PMCID: PMC10696165.
[12] Cedeño Laurent JG, Williams A, Oulhote Y, Zanobetti A, Allen JG, Spengler JD. Reduced cognitive function during a heat wave among residents of non-air-conditioned buildings: An observational study of young adults in the summer of 2016. PLoS Med. 2018 Jul 10;15(7):e1002605. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002605. PMID: 29990359; PMCID: PMC6039003.
[13] Ednick M, Cohen AP, McPhail GL, Beebe D, Simakajornboon N, Amin RS. A review of the effects of sleep during the first year of life on cognitive, psychomotor, and temperament development. Sleep. 2009 Nov;32(11):1449-58. doi: 10.1093/sleep/32.11.1449. PMID: 19928384; PMCID: PMC2768951.
[14] Berger, S.E., Ordway, M.R., Schoneveld, E. et al. The impact of extreme summer temperatures in the United Kingdom on infant sleep: Implications for learning and development. Sci Rep 13, 10061 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37111-2.
[15] Medic G, Wille M, Hemels ME. Short- and long-term health consequences of sleep disruption. Nat Sci Sleep. 2017 May 19;9:151-161. doi: 10.2147/NSS.S134864. PMID: 28579842; PMCID: PMC5449130.
[16] Joshua, Graff, Zivin., Jeffrey, Shrader. "(9) Temperature Extremes, Health, and Human Capital." The Future of Children, undefined (2016). doi: 10.1353/FOC.2016.0002
[17] Amita, Bansal., Nicolas, Cherbuin., Deborah, Davis., Michael, J., Peek., Amanda, Wingett., Bruce, Christensen., Hazel, Carlisle., Margaret, Broom., Danielle, A, J, M, Schoenaker., Jane, E., Dahlstrom., C., B., Phillips., Sotiris, Vardoulakis., Ralph, Nanan., Christopher, John, Nolan. "(4) Heatwaves and wildfires suffocate our healthy start to life: time to assess impact and take action." The Lancet Planetary Health, undefined (2023). doi: 10.1016/s2542-5196(23)00134-1.
[18] Heat Islands and Equity | US EPA, accessed 27 Aug. 2024.
[19] Centering Equity to Address Extreme Heat (urban.org), accessed 27 Aug. 2024.
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Jennifer Ottolino • 1st
Freelance writer and editor
11mo
Thanks for spotlighting these issues.
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