Health Alert - High Heat 

Snohomish Health District put out a media release on Friday June 25, 2021, with important health information in regards to the excessive heat warning that has been issued by the National Weather Service, with temperatures expected to be above 100 degrees on Sunday and Monday throughout the region. Please click on the media release link above to read this information.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Because of their unique physiology, children are more susceptible to temperature extremes and their health effects. Children are less able to regulate their body temperature compared with adults. As a result, children are more likely to develop significant health effects when they are exposed to environmental temperature extremes.“

The National best practice standard, Caring for Our Children, recommends against taking children outside if heat index is at or above 90°F. The heat index takes into account both the temperature and the humidity (moisture in the air). A heat index chart, like this one, is used to determine the heat index. 

If your child care space is air conditioned, stay indoors particularly during the hottest hours of the day, typically between the hours of 10am and 4pm. 

Don’t rely on fans. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness. In fact, fans may increase heat stress at high temperatures. To cool down, use cold single use washcloths or wet paper towels on neck or wrists. Close doors of unused rooms and close curtains or blinds to keep heat out. Limit using your stove and oven to maintain a cooler temperature indoors. Avoid hot or heavy meals since they add heat to your body. Remember to drink plenty of fluids.

Consider your ability to keep children cool, while keeping them safe from COVID-19 when making a decision to operate your child care during extreme heat. Because young children remain unvaccinated, children and their caregivers still need to wear masks. Per Washington State DOH guidance, “All staff, children, and youth five years of age or older must wear cloth face coverings or an acceptable alternative at child care when indoors and when outdoors where a minimum of six feet distancing cannot be maintained.” Consider taking mask breaks outside, in shaded areas where you can keep the children six feet apart. Masks should not be worn during water play when the mask could get wet; try to keep children spaced six feet apart during these times.

Watch children closely for signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and you should call 911. Symptoms of heat exhaustion can be life threatening. People with heat exhaustion should move to a cool place, hydrate, and reduce temperature with cool cloths or cool bath. Seek medical help if symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour.

Reminder about sunscreen: Sunscreen should be applied thirty minutes before going outdoors as it needs time to absorb into the skin. If the children will be out for more than one hour, sunscreen will need to be reapplied every two hours as it can wear off. If children are playing in water, reapplication will be needed more frequently. Children should also be protected from the sun by using shade and sun protective clothing. Follow all WAC requirements regarding sunscreen application.

______________________________________________________________________RResources

Child Care Weather Watch Heat Index Chart - https://www.c-uphd.org/documents/wellness/weatherwatch.pdf– information about calculating and interpreting the heat index, guidance on when it is/ is not appropriate for children to play outside due to the temperatures.

Washington State Department of Health - Hot Weather Safety - 
https://www.doh.wa.gov/emergencies/bepreparedbesafe/severeweatherandnaturaldisasters/hotweathersafety. Also available in SPANISH.

Caring for Our Children: https://nrckids.org/CFOC/Database/3.1.3.2 

Weather-related WACs:

• WAC 110-300-0147: Weather conditions and outdoor hazards.
• WAC 110-301-0147: school-age program.

 
American Academy of Pediatrics - 

• Extreme Temperature Exposure - HealthyChildren.org
• Extreme Temperatures: Heat and Cold (aap.org)   

Additional information on weather-related risks can be found on the Snohomish Health District website at http://www.snohd.org/228/Weather. 

For child care questions, contact the Snohomish Health District Child Care Health Outreach Program at childcarehealth@snohd.org or 425.252.5415. 
For COVID 19 questions related to exposure contact the CD Line: 425-339-5278