Keep babies and kids safe from heat stress
Extreme heat, or a heatwave, is a period of unusually hot weather.
Extreme heat can have severe effects.
Newborns, infants and young children are very vulnerable to heat-related illness as their bodies warm faster than others.
Schools, childcare services, parents and carers should prepare to keep children safe from this.
How to prepare
Childcare centres and schools should create a policy and plan to deal with extreme heat.
They must be able to recognise and respond to heat-related illness. They also need strategies to manage the risks of extreme hot weather and heatwaves.
You should check daily weather reports and make adjustments to outdoor activity schedules.
You can find heat health warnings on the:
Childcare centres and schools should regularly check these sites during October to March. This is the time of the year when heatwaves often occur in the NT.
Symptoms
You should know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness and how to respond.
Treatment options vary according to the type of heat-related illness.
For a list of common heat-related illness and first aid measures, read heat stress.
During a heatwave
During a heatwave or hot weather, carers should:
- make sure students and children stay well hydrated - encourage older children to drink plenty of water, even before feeling thirsty
- offer younger children and babies a drink of water frequently before, during and after play - you can offer babies cooled boiled water in addition to normal feeds
- check on babies regularly, monitor nappy changes - well-hydrated babies regularly wet their nappies
- ensure children are not left unattended in cars or buses
- consider cancelling, rescheduling, or moving sports practice to cooler times of the day e.g. early morning
- avoid doing outside activities with children in the heat of the day - generally between 11am and 4pm
- consider holding break times indoors (if our building is air-conditioned):
- if your building is not air-conditioned, consider holding break times or classes in shady places - they may be cooler than the indoor air temperature
- check children for signs of heat-related illness - if they show signs:
- give them water and allow them to rest in a cool place - you can cool them down quickly by applying ice packs to their groin and under the armpits, and wrap them in a wet sheet and fan them
- and their condition doesn't improve, or they show signs of worsening, get medical help immediately - the child could have heat-stroke, which is a very serious condition.
For more information on how to treat a child or person with heat-related illness, read heat stress.