Health Effects of Extreme Heat: Extreme heat exposure is the leading weather-related cause of death in the US. Adults need to pay special attention to children during extreme heat because they are less able to regulate temperature. Extreme heat has many detrimental effects on child health including heatstroke, dehydration, and heat exhaustion. Symptoms of heat-related illness may include headaches, muscle cramps, fevers, excessive sweating, dizziness, or confusion. Excessive heat is also connected with mental health problems and impaired academic performance at school. Certain medications also alter thermoregulation and may increase a child’s vulnerability to heat-related illness. These heat risks are the worst for children living in urban areas with less access to air-conditioning.
Extreme heat can also have significant impacts on pregnancy outcomes. Pregnant women are at greater risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke than non-pregnant women. Health effects of extreme heat during pregnancy include increased abruption (premature placental separation), gestational diabetes, preterm birth, low birthweight, and stillbirth, especially in those with underlying co-morbidities.
Health Effects of Flooding: Flooding can have many effects on children’s health. In addition to injury and drowning, other risks arise in the aftermath of flooding due to contamination of local water supplies, the spread of infectious disease, mold growth in the home and carbon monoxide poisoning from the use of emergency generators. Low-income families may have a greater exposure to hazards in the aftermath if they can’t access remediation in a timely manner. Flooding is traumatic for children and can have mental health implications, especially when there have been significant changes to the child’s home or schooling routine. In the aftermath of a flood, particular attention should be paid to issues relating to water contamination and mold, in addition to common pediatric environmental concerns such as physical safety, lead, asbestos, and chemicals. Exposure to mold can be a health risk for children with underlying health conditions such as asthma.