HOW HOTTER SUMMERS HURTS CHILDREN & PREGNANT WOMEN

Hotter summers are the new norm thanks to climate change, and they’re not just exhausting and hot: they’re downright dangerous to human health. Extreme heat already kills a half a million people a year around the globe. Its impacts are especially harsh on children and pregnant women. As heatwaves intensify and become more frequent, mitigating their impact is critical.

Excessive heat puts a tremendous strain on our body’s normal functioning. It disrupts the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating, leading to heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can escalate rapidly especially in high humidity. Chronic exposure to extreme heat can exacerbate chronic illnesses like cardiovascular, respiratory, and kidney diseases.

Children are particularly vulnerable to heat for several reasons:

• Their bodies are less efficient at regulating temperature. That’s because they produce more heat relative to their body size but sweat less, making it harder for them to cool down.
• Kids often spend more time outdoors in summer, increasing their risk of heat-related illness. And sports or activities that involve running around can elevate body temperatures to dangerous levels without lots of hydration and rest.
• Studies also suggest that extreme heat can affect cognitive development. Warm classroom temperatures have been linked to decreased academic performance; it’s harder for children to concentrate and learn when it’s hot.

Parents, teachers, and caregivers should make sure children stay hydrated, avoid prolonged outdoor play time during the hottest hours, and dress kids in lightweight, breathable clothing. Schools should also prioritize systems to keep kids cool in the classroom.

Pregnant women also face unique challenges in summer heatwaves:

• Pregnancy raises a woman’s core body temperature, making it harder to tolerate heat. And dehydration can lead to serious complications, including premature labor and low birth weight.
• During pregnancy, a woman’s circulation changes too as blood volume increases to support a growing fetus. This makes pregnant women more susceptible to heat stress.
• Research shows a strong link between heat exposure and bad pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth and congenital defect. This is important to watch out for, especially in low-income areas where access to air conditioning and healthcare may be limited.

Pregnant women are advised to stay indoors during peak heat hours, drink plenty of fluids, and stay in air conditioning when possible. Healthcare providers should monitor high-risk pregnancies closely during heatwaves.

But heatwaves don’t just hurt pregnant women and children. Increased energy demands strain power grids, leading to power outages that disproportionately affect low-income communities. Urban areas with tons of concrete and asphalt trap heat and amplify heat risks, especially for elderly people or those with heart conditions and diabetes, in cities. Heat also exacerbates air pollution, increasing the incidence of asthma attacks and other respiratory problems in children.

The rising health risks associated with hotter summers highlight the urgent need for adaptation and mitigation strategies. Expanding access to cooling centers, planting trees for natural shade, and improving urban planning to create natural breezes are crucial. For children and pregnant women, prioritizing education, community support, and healthcare can make a life-saving difference. As temperatures climb, safeguarding these vulnerable groups should be at the forefront of climate resilience efforts.