Family Fun & Safety During Record-Setting Heat

We’ve been talking about record heat all this week on WeatherNation with temperatures climbing to very dangerous levels across the southwest.  As many kids are either kicking off summer break or into the last days of the school year, the desire for them to get outside and try to enjoy the warmer weather will be there just as much as the hazards that come with it being too hot.

“It’s just so important for these kids to get outside and get exercise, get away from that screen time” said Nicole Williams, a second grade teacher in the Cherry Creek School District in Colorado.  “With the heat, as long as my kiddos are hydrated drinking lots of water and getting Gatorade and definitely wearing sunscreen and hats, I think that kids need it.  They need to be outside!”

Williams is not alone with her thoughts and concerns.  The recent pandemic forced many kids into remote learning and as a result, less time spent outside or getting the opportunity to partake in daily activities that allowed them to be in the sun such as recess or sports practice.  According to HealthyChildren.Org from the American Academy of Pediatrics, while getting a certain amount of sunlight will help to create vitamin D in the skin, preventative measures still need to be taken to avert skin cancer or heat-related illnesses.

According to Ready.Gov, extreme heat is responsible for the largest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards, and children are at a greater risk from extreme heat.  So when you add extreme heat also into the mix, it can provide many challenges for families that want to schedule outdoor time in places such as the park or in a pool.

There are ways that you can beat the heat and stay safe during the warmer months and times of the year so your family can still have fun in the sun.  Save The Children, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Fairfield, CT, put out a checklist of some important heat safety tips you can follow with your family all season long.