During the peak summer days last year, Lyndsay MacKay would often find her 16-month-old son at daycare in just a diaper, his skin sticky and hair matted. He would be exhausted, sometimes falling asleep during dinner. Despite the educators’ efforts to keep the children cool by using ice cubes, offering popsicles, and adjusting the room temperatures, MacKay, a mother from Toronto and an early childhood education professor, expressed concerns about the children merely enduring the hot days.
Similar to seniors, infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are more vulnerable to heat exhaustion and heatstroke due to their higher metabolism and less efficient sweat glands, making it challenging for them to regulate body temperature. Dr. Kirstin Weerdenburg, a pediatrician at Halifax’s IWK Health Centre, emphasized the importance of caregivers recognizing signs of heat-related illnesses in young children since they may not be able to communicate their discomfort effectively.
Recognizing symptoms like fatigue, flushed skin, irritability, and difficulty walking can indicate heat-related issues in children. While mild cases can be managed with fluids and a cool environment, severe dehydration may require medical intervention, including intravenous fluids. In extreme cases, heatstroke can lead to organ failure and heart complications.
Amy O’Neil, the executive director of Treetop Children’s Centre in Toronto, highlighted the necessity of air-conditioning in daycare centers for the safety of children. O’Neil emphasized that maintaining a comfortable temperature is crucial for children’s well-being, and the lack of regulations addressing maximum indoor temperatures during extreme heat is concerning.
Despite promises from Ontario Premier Doug Ford to consider regulating maximum indoor temperatures in daycares, no progress has been made on the issue. While licensed child-care operators are responsible for ensuring a safe environment for children during extreme heat, regulations across provinces remain vague on setting specific temperature limits.
Advocates, such as Jacqueline Wilson from the Canadian Environmental Law Association, stressed the need for legislation regarding maximum indoor temperatures in daycare facilities and funding for necessary upgrades. The increasing frequency of extreme heat events and wildfires underscores the urgency of addressing heat-related risks for children in daycare settings.
Kate Lawes, the manager of Tree of Life Nature Play School in Victoria, faced challenges managing heat-related risks and wildfires at her daycare. She emphasized the importance of caution in protecting children’s health, especially during extreme weather events. Lawes closed her school during a severe heatwave in 2021 and invested in a heat pump to ensure a comfortable environment for children and staff.
MacKay expressed gratitude that her son’s daycare in Toronto now has air-conditioning, noting the positive impact on her son’s well-being and energy levels. The implementation of measures to mitigate heat-related risks in daycare settings remains a critical priority for ensuring the safety and health of young children.