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How to keep babies safe when temperatures soar
- Much of the U.S. sweltered last week under a heat dome, prompting pediatricians to intensify focus on infant safety. Dr. Katherine Williamson, a pediatrician with Rady Children's Health in Orange, California, said heat has become "more commonplace as a potential injury" alongside traditional child hazards.
- Human-Caused climate change is making heat waves longer, stronger and more widespread, while children face distinct physiological vulnerabilities. They sweat less than adults, possess higher metabolism causing faster overheating, and their higher surface area-to-mass ratio increases heat absorption; kids also spend more time outdoors.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 31 children died of heat stroke in vehicles in 2025. Dr. Debra Langlois at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital stated, "If you're hot, your baby sure is going to be hot," while advising balanced outdoor exposure.
- Parents must monitor heat illness signs closely: lack of tears or irregular wet diapers indicate dehydration, increased irritability signals overheating, and fatigue with flushed skin means immediate cooling is needed. Feeding infants smaller, more frequent meals helps maintain hydration.
- Never leave children in cars; temperatures rise dramatically even in shade with open windows. Experts recommend opening windows 10 to 20 seconds while running air conditioning, checking metal car seat parts, using sun shades, and avoiding stroller blankets in favor of canopies. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends leaving personal items in back seats as memory aids.
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32 Articles
32 Articles
Children sweat less than adults and have a higher metabolism, which makes them warm up faster
·Los Angeles, United States
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Children may experience more than 50 days of extreme heat due to their height. The difference in perceived temperature is significant compared to adults, so taking precautions against heatstroke, such as using parasols and staying hydrated, is crucial.
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Total News Sources32
Leaning Left16Leaning Right3Center13Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
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- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 41%
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