August 05, 2025
Summer is a great time for children to enjoy the outdoors, but when temperatures rise, so do the risks of dehydration and heat-related illness. While kids should stay active and play outside, it's important for parents to understand how to keep children safe when it gets hot out.
Here’s what you should know about how kids respond to heat, how to prevent problems, and what to do if symptoms of heat exhaustion appear.
Children and teenagers don’t adjust as quickly to heat as adults. Their bodies generate more heat during activity, and they don’t sweat as much, which makes it harder to cool down. They also lose fluids faster than adults.
It’s also common for kids to get so caught up in playing that they forget to rest or drink some water. This increases their risk of overheating, especially on hot and humid days.
The best way to keep kids safe is to keep them in air conditioning as much as possible. When your child is outdoors, try to letting them stay out there for too long when:
• The relative humidity is 75 percent or higher
• The heat index is 90 degrees or above (this is how hot it feels when you combine heat and humidity)
When they are outside, make sure they take the following precautions:
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothes made of breathable material
• Use sunscreen and wear a hat and sunglasses
• Drink water as often as possible
• Take regular breaks in the shade or indoors
Kids can become dehydrated when their bodies don't have enough water. Dehydration can also cause a loss of electrolytes.
Symptoms may include:
Feeling tired or low energy
Being irritable
Crying without tears
Fast breathing or heart rate
Muscle cramps
Confusion or dizziness
Dry mouth
Dark urine or not needing to pee as often
In more serious cases, kids may look pale, have sunken eyes, or feel nauseous and vomit.
If a child is showing signs of dehydration, have them rest in a cool area and give them fluids. Water is usually enough, but drinks with electrolytes or oral rehydration solutions can help too. It may take a few hours for them to feel normal again. If they have serious symptoms or don't show signs of improvement, contact their doctor or seek medical care.
There are three types of heat-related illness: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. The first two are more common and less serious, but they can lead to heat stroke if not treated.
These are painful muscle cramps or spasms that usually occur in the arms, legs, or stomach. They’re caused by sweating and low salt levels. Other signs of heat cramps include moist, red skin as well as a mild fever.
If you suspect a child has heat cramps, gently stretch the cramped muscles. You should also move them to a cool area to rest. Remove any extra clothing and apply cool cloths to their skin. Drinking water or a sports drink with salt and sugar can also be helpful.
This happens when the body can’t cool itself down. It’s usually caused by long exposure to heat and a lot of sweating.
Symptoms may include:
• Pale, clammy skin
• Headache
• Tiredness or weakness
• Dizziness or feeling faint
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Irritability
• Trouble with coordination
• A fever over 100.4°F
If your child shows signs of heat exhaustion, move them to a cool, shady spot right away. Have them rest, give them water or a sports drink, and use a cool cloth or fan to help bring their body temperature down.
This is a medical emergency. Heat stroke occurs when the body’s internal temperature rises quickly and can’t be controlled. A child with heat stroke can reach a temperature of 106°F or higher within minutes.
Signs may include:
• Hot, red, dry skin
• Little or no sweating
• Unusual behavior such as saying strange things
• Fast breathing and heartbeat
• Headache, dizziness, or confusion
• Very dark or very little urine
• A high fever, usually over 104°F
If a child has these symptoms, call 911 immediately. While waiting for help, move them to a cool area, take off any excess clothing, drench their skin with cool water, fan them, and place icebags on their armpits and groin.
Being outside is part of what makes summer so much fun, but on hot days, kids may need a little extra help staying safe. Most safety precautions are simple, like dressing properly, drinking water, and taking breaks. But it's still important to know the signs of heat-related illness and how to respond if your child starts to feel sick. Have a safe summer!
