Heat wave especially dangerous for kids

Newswise: Extreme heat continues to plague the nation with many areas seeing record temperatures. Though everyone needs to take precautions when it comes to dangerous heat, it’s especially important to watch your kids. Children are at a greater risk than adults of sustaining a heat injury.

“Kids bodies don’t acclimate to the heat as well adults. They don’t sweat as effectively. They absorb more heat since they have smaller bodies and a higher ratio of surface area to body mass,” said Jerold Stirling, chair of the department of pediatrics at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and pediatrician at Loyola University Health System.

According to Stirling one of the greatest dangers is leaving a child in a car unattended on a hot day.

“No matter the child’s age this can be dangerous or even deadly. Even if it’s for a short period of time and you leave the car windows down it’s dangerous. Inside the car can be several degrees hotter than outside and places a child at greater risk for heat stroke or heat exhaustion,” said Stirling.

No matter where a child is or their age, according to Stirling, supervision and parental intervention are crucial when the temperatures reach these extreme levels...

From 1996, a fire hydrant in Philadelphia, shot by Kwanesum, public domain