Extreme Heat Guidelines: Child Care Providers and Home Visiting Agencies

Child Care Providers:

Children are less able to regulate their body temperature and more likely to become dehydrated compared to adults. During extreme heat, keep children cool and, if at all possible, stay in air-conditioned spaces. If outdoors, stay in shade whenever possible and limit outdoor time between 11 am and 4 pm when temperatures and UV radiations are most intense. Consider canceling outdoor activities and keep children indoors. Be sure children are well hydrated and monitor children closely for signs and symptoms of heat-related effects. 

Home Visiting Agencies & Staff:

Check on clients who do not have air conditioning to make sure they are stable and taking steps to prevent heat related illness. Please inform clients that two hours in air conditioning during a 24-hour period can prevent heat related illness and death. Discuss signs/symptoms of illness, safety tips and cooling center locations and hours. Call 211 for cooling center locations and times. Tell clients that DART provides free rides to and from cooling centers. Riders need to inform the bus driver they are going to or coming from a cooling center.

Here are several tips to share with your clients:

• Do not use appliances like the oven, stove and dryer during the daytime as these can heat homes up quickly.
• Keep windows and blinds closed during the day to keep heat out.
• Open windows when temperatures are the lowest from 4 am - 7 a.m.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Do not sit directly in front of a fan; this can cause dehydration.
• Freeze a bottle of water such as a milk jug and place it in front of the fan to make the air cooler.