EXTREME HEAT

The document details how rising temperatures and more frequent heat waves in the U.S. disproportionately affect children's health and development. It highlights physiological vulnerabilities, the impact of urban heat islands on marginalized communities, and provides guidance for caregivers to mitigate heat-related illnesses.

• Human-caused climate change, primarily from burning coal, oil, and methane gas, has led to average temperatures in the contiguous U.S. being 2.6°F warmer now than in 1970, with multi-day heat waves occurring more frequently and lasting longer than in the 1960s.
• Children aged 0-17 are highly vulnerable to heat-related illness because they sweat less, acclimate to heat more slowly than adults, and may miss symptoms of heat stress. Infants are specifically at a higher risk of death during their first week of life if born during a heat wave.
• Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S. Nearly 12% of children's emergency department visits between May and September are attributed to excessive heat, and a 1°F temperature increase during these months could result in approximately 17,000 additional visits.
• Socioeconomic factors exacerbate heat risks for children; urban heat islands are more likely to be found in predominantly non-white and lower-income communities, where children may face higher urban heat and have less access to air conditioning.
• Approximately 9,000 high school athletes in the U.S. are treated for exertional heat-related illness annually.

APA

Climate Central (n.d.). EXTREME HEAT. https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/6jmNT9LMcVuVzvJNMaTTNK/55e55553282bff0b99958faecb726dc7/ChildrenAndClimateChange_HeatHealth.pdf

Chicago

Climate Central. EXTREME HEAT. n.d. https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/6jmNT9LMcVuVzvJNMaTTNK/55e55553282bff0b99958faecb726dc7/ChildrenAndClimateChange_HeatHealth.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Central |title=EXTREME HEAT |url=https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/6jmNT9LMcVuVzvJNMaTTNK/55e55553282bff0b99958faecb726dc7/ChildrenAndClimateChange_HeatHealth.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatecentralndextreme, author = {{Climate Central}}, title = {{EXTREME HEAT}}, institution = {Climate Central}, url = {https://assets.ctfassets.net/cxgxgstp8r5d/6jmNT9LMcVuVzvJNMaTTNK/55e55553282bff0b99958faecb726dc7/ChildrenAndClimateChange_HeatHealth.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }