Keep your children safe in the summer heat

Houston, TX - Aug 13, 2026

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As summer temperatures heat up, it is important to remember to keep all members of the family safe when spending time outdoors. Baylor College of Medicine family medicine physician Dr. Raphael Yang shares tips for protecting your child from heat illness and what to do if your child becomes sick.

• Heat illness can vary from mild to very serious, so parents should be aware of certain symptoms:
• Heat rash: a bumpy, red rash on the neck or chest.
• Heat exhaustion: headache, dizziness, feeling tired or weak, nausea or vomiting, excessive sweating and cool and clammy skin.

Heat stroke: high body temperature of 104 F or higher, confusion, slurred speech, fainting, hot dry skin and seizures.

"Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency. If your child is confused or acting strangely, has a very high temperature or passes out, call 911 right away," said Yang, assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. "You should cool them down as quickly as possible using cold water or ice, and do not try to give them anything to drink if they cannot safely swallow."

If your child has mild heat illness, move them to a cool place with shade or air conditioning to lie down, Yang said. Give them cool water or Pedialyte and place cool, wet towels on their skin.

"Babies and younger children are at a high risk for heat illness because their bodies heat up quickly and take longer to cool down," Yang said. "They also can't tell you when they're too hot."

Parents should keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight and give them breast milk or formula frequently. Dress toddlers and babies over six months in light-colored and loose-fitting clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30+). Give them water frequently; do not wait for them to ask for a drink.

Everyone should avoid spending extended time outdoors during the hottest part of the day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Yang recommends that children take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors every 20 to 30 minutes and drink water before, during and after outdoor time. Children who have been sick recently should limit time in the heat.

"How long your child can stay outside depends on the temperature and humidity, the level of exercise, how much water they are drinking, and whether their body is used to the heat," Yang said.

As children head back to school in the summer heat, Yang recommends that parents:

• Send a water bottle every day and encourage your child to drink regularly during outdoor activities, not just when they feel thirsty.
• Dress them in light-colored and breathable clothing and apply sunscreen (SPF 30+) before school.
• Talk to your child about signs of heat illness and make sure they speak to a teacher or coach immediately if they begin to feel ill.
• Talk to teachers and coaches about a heat safety plan, including frequent water and shade breaks, practicing during cooler times of the day, gradually building up exercise at the start of the season and limiting heavy gear until kids are adjusted to practicing in the heat.

Staying hydrated is an important part of avoiding heat illness. Yang recommends that children drink plain water for most activities, including exercise under one hour. During more intense exercise, sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade help replace salt lost to sweat and gives muscles extra energy. Yang notes that low-sugar sports drinks are fine for short activity, but carbohydrates in regular sports drinks are helpful to maintain performance during intense exercise. Sports drinks are not needed for everyday use outside of intense exercise. It's also important not to chug excessively large amounts of plain water all at once because that can cause a dangerous drop in sodium levels. Children should not drink energy drinks or caffeinated beverages in general.

"Heat illness is almost always preventable. Water, shade, rest breaks and paying attention to how your child is feeling are the best tools to keep them safe," Yang said.