Extreme heat poses rising risks to infants and children

Pediatricians are warning that extreme heat is becoming a significant injury risk for infants and toddlers, as young children cannot regulate their body temperature as effectively as adults.

Research indicates that heat-related health risks are not distributed equally. Black families are more likely to reside in urban heat islands—neighborhoods characterized by higher temperatures due to increased concrete, asphalt, and a lack of tree canopy. These environmental conditions are often linked to historical discriminatory housing practices such as redlining.

In addition to direct heat illness, higher temperatures can exacerbate air pollution, such as ozone and fine particle pollution. This poses a specific risk to Black children, who federal data shows have higher asthma rates and a higher likelihood of asthma-related mortality.