Children are now expected to face seven times more heat waves than their grandparents due to climate change. Below is information on the symptoms of heat sickness, tips for heat stress management and the work we are doing to address heat waves & climate change.
Save The Children has been championing children’s rights for over 100 years. We provide life-saving aid in a disaster and programs that focus on putting children first - working towards our vision of a world in which every child lives, learns and is safe from harm. We believe every child deserves a bright future and are advocates for climate change adaptation measures to ensure a world that allows future generations to thrive.
With the threat of heat waves & climate change increasing, below are our top tips for keeping your family safe from heat sickness during extreme heat.
Symptoms of heat sickness
Because the body's ability to regulate its temperature isn't fully developed in children, children under 4 are at a higher risk of heat sickness.
During extreme heat keep an eye out for the following heat sickness symptoms:
If you think you or a family member is suffering from heat sickness, heat stress management can include stopping and resting, moving to somewhere cool if possible and keeping fluids up. If symptoms get worse or don’t improve after one hour or you’re concerned and not sure what to do, seek medical advice from healthcare professionals immediately.
Tips for protecting against heat sickness and extreme heat
With the rise in heat waves from climate change, heat stress management will help to minimise the risk for you and your family. Here are our tips for keeping your family safe during extreme heat:
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Never leave children unsupervised in parked cars
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Be informed by staying up to date with extreme heat warnings from authorities
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Seek shelter in cool places
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Wear light, loose-fitting clothing and sunscreen
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Drink lots of fluids
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Avoid strenuous activities and have plenty of rest, especially during the hottest parts of the day
Our advocacy for climate change adaptation
Climate-related disasters like those caused by extreme heat disproportionately impact children.
We believe that it is important for children to have a voice, and to actively participate in creating their future by being a part of important decision-making on climate change response.
Around the world, we are supporting children, caregivers & communities to anticipate, plan and adapt to climate change impacts so we can strengthen resilience to climate change. We’re giving children a platform for their voices to be heard so they can contribute to the solutions for their future.
We are also working closely with local government officials to strengthen their understanding of climate change and support them to deliver projects that help communities adapt.
Donate to the work we’re doing to support climate change adaptation
Make a single donation today or become a monthly giver to help us work towards creating a better future through adaptation to heat waves from climate change for generations to come. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.