Heat Safety

Preventing Heat-Related Injuries

Practice heat safety wherever you go!

Prevent Heat-related Illnesses

Being aware of temperature is a top priority during the hot summer months.

It takes only 10 minutes for the temperature inside a vehicle to rise 20 degrees. For infants and kids in particular, this increase is enough to result in death. Their young bodies cannot handle high heat (as well as adults) and require extra care—even on warm summer days. Infants, children, and older adults are particularly vulnerable. It’s crucial to stay informed and take preventive measures to ensure everyone’s safety.

Source: Kids and Car Safety, Healthy Children, National Council for Safety (NCS), National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), and No Heat Stroke.

Safety Tips for Kids

Make sure your infant or kid is never left alone in a car:

Since 1998, 971 kids have died from Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke (PVH). All of these deaths could have been prevented.

Anyone left in a hot parked vehicle is at risk. However, kids are especially at risk of having a vehicular heatstroke or dying.

When traveling during the summer, it is important to remember to:

  • Never leave children unattended in a parked vehicle, even with windows cracked.
  • Use reminders, like placing a stuffed animal in the front seat when a child is in the back.
  • The Greenhouse Effect in vehicles can cause the car’s interior to reach 125°F within minutes.
    • 80% of this temperature rise occurs in the first 10 minutes.
  • Cracking windows DOES NOT significantly slow the heating process

Preventative Measures:

    • Place essential items (e.g., phone, handbag) in the back seat as a reminder.
    • Establish routines to check the back seat every time you park.
    • Keep vehicles locked when not in use to prevent children from entering.
    • Teach children to honk the horn or turn on hazard lights if trapped inside.
    • Never leave car keys within reach of kids.
    • Keep vehicles locked at all times, especially in the garage or driveway.
    • If you see an infant or kid alone in a vehicle, get involved. Call 911 immediately. If the infant or kid seems hot or sick, get them out of the vehicle as quickly as possible.

Source: Kids and Hot Car Safety

 

Safety Tips for Older Adults

Approximately 1,220 people in the U.S. are killed by extreme heat every year.

When the temperature climbs above 80°F, older adults need to be proactive and take precautions to avoid ailments due to excessive heat.

Share safety tips & keep cool:

  • Stay hydrated with water and non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Avoid direct sun exposure; schedule outdoor activities during cooler parts of the day.
  • Spend time in air-conditioned places; if unavailable, visit public facilities like libraries or malls.
  • Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
  • Apply sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, and wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
  • Recognize symptoms of heat-related illnesses: dizziness, nausea, headache, rapid heartbeat.
  • In case of power outages, keep water bottles in the freezer to help keep the refrigerator cool.

Source: Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC).

Heat-related Illnesses are Preventable

It’s important to recognize when hot weather is making you sick, and when to get help. Learn the symptoms and what to do if you or a loved one shows signs of having a heat-related illness.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What it is: A loss of water in your body. It can be serious if not treated.

Warning signs: Weakness, headache, muscle cramps, dizziness, confusion, and passing out.

What to do: Drink plenty of water and, if possible, sports drinks such as Gatorade™, which contain important salts called “electrolytes.” Among other things, electrolytes play a key role in regulating your heartbeat. Your body loses electrolytes when you’re dehydrated. If you don’t feel better, call 911. If you feel better after drinking fluids, but have medical conditions like heart failure or take diuretics (“water pills”), you should also call your healthcare provider for a follow-up.

What it is: Heat cramps usually affect workers who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture levels. Low salt levels in muscles cause painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.

Warning signs: Heavy sweating during intense exercise. Muscle cramps, pain, or spasms in the abdomen, arms, or legs.

What to do: Stop physical activity and move to a cool place. Drink water or a sports drink. Wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity.

Get medical help right away if:

  • you have cramps last longer than 1 hour
  • you are on a low-sodium diet
  • you have heart problems

What it is: A very dangerous rise in your body temperature, which may happen gradually over days of heat exposure in older adults. It can be deadly.

Warning signs: A body temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher; red, hot, and dry skin; a fast pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea or vomiting; confusion or lethargy; and passing out.

What to do: Call 911 immediately. Move to a cool, shady place and take off or loosen heavy clothes. If possible, douse yourself with cool water, or put cloths soaked with cool water on your wrists, ankles, armpits, and neck to lower your temperature. Try to see if you can safely swallow water or sports drinks while waiting for 911.

Note: If you are caring for someone else who has heat stroke, only give them water or drinks if they are awake and can swallow. Do not try to give fluids by mouth if the person is drowsy, as it could cause choking.

What it is: A serious health problem caused by too much heat and dehydration. If not treated, it may lead to heat stroke (see above).

Warning signs: Heavy sweating or no sweating, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, paleness, cold or clammy skin, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, fast and weak pulse, fainting. Body temperature is generally between 98.6°F (37°C) and 104°F (40°C).

What to do: Without delay, move to a cool, shady place, and drink plenty of cool fluids, such as water or sports drinks. Call 911 right away if you have high blood pressure or heart problems, or if you don’t feel better quickly after moving to the shade and drinking liquids.

What it is: Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather.

Warning signs: Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples on the skin (usually on the neck, chest, groin, or in elbow creases).

What to do: Stay in a cool, dry place. Keep the rash dry. Use powder (like baby powder) to soothe the rash.

What it is: Fainting caused by high temperatures.

Warning signs: Dizziness or fainting.

What to do: Lie down and put your feet up, and drink plenty of water and other cool fluids.

What it is: A sunburn is reddening of the skin that occurs after you are overexposed to the sun or other ultraviolet light.

Warning signs: Blisters and/or painful, red, and warm skin.

What to do: Stay out of the sun until your sunburn heals. Put cool cloths on sunburned areas or take a cool bath. Put moisturizing lotion on sunburned areas. Do not break blisters.

Ways to Keep Cool

When temperatures soar, taking simple steps to stay cool can help prevent heat-related illnesses. Whether you’re indoors or out, these tips can make a big difference.

For immediate actions:

  • Move the person to a cooler environment.
  • Apply cool, wet cloths to the body.
  • Seek medical attention promptly.

Everyday actions:

  • Use air conditioning when possible. If you don’t have it at home, spend time in public air-conditioned places like libraries or shopping centers.
  • Take cool showers or baths to lower your body temperature.
  • Limit outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day (usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.).
  • Use fans wisely—they help circulate air but may not prevent heat illness when temperatures are extremely high (above 95–100°F).
  • Avoid using the stove or oven, which can heat up your living space. Opt for cold meals or microwave cooking instead.
  • Wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing, and accessorize with hats and sunglasses for sun protection.
  • Drink plenty of water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can dehydrate you.

During extreme weather, community resources are available to provide shelter:

Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionWA Department of Health, King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA), and The Seattle Public Library.

Heatstroke Deaths of Kids In Vehicles

In 2024: 39 kids died from hot vehicle deaths.

On average, 37 kids (under the age of 15) die annually from vehicular heatstroke—in more than half of these fatalities, the kid was forgotten in a hot vehicle by a parent or caregiver.

All of these deaths could have been prevented.

Source: National Council for Safety (NSC)

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