Extreme Weather (for Health Professionals)

If your patients live in an area that is prone to weather such as hurricanes or extreme heat waves, they can take steps ahead of time to prepare. Examples include developing an emergency plan, building an emergency kit, and signing up for emergency alerts/warnings. See our vetted resource list for links.

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.

Heat: Health professionals can advise parents to take steps to prepare in advance to reduce the effects of extreme heat. Recommendations includewearing protective clothes (light-colored clothing, hats, sunglasses, SPF-lined), wearing sunscreen SPF > 30, (reapplying at least every two hours no matter the SPF rating and after swimming/sweating), avoiding outdoor activity during peak sun (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and seeking out shaded areas. Remind families to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and take breaks often. For pro-active counseling and targeted interventions, health professionals should also review a child’s medical record and medications to identify who may be at greater risk for heat-related illness.

Flooding: Key issues for habitability of an area impacted by flooding and/or hurricanes include restoration of drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities, safe road conditions, removal of solid waste and debris, access to reliable electricity and replacement or renovation of flood damaged homes. Healthcare professionals should ask families if there is mold developing in their home after these events and counsel them on how to safely address it. Before children return, schools and outdoor play areas should be cleaned and ready for use. Children and teens and pregnant women should not be involved in clean-up efforts and should return after the area is cleaned up. Children, and those who are pregnant, should be the last groups to return to areas affected by flooding, hurricanes or other disaster areas.  View more here.