On scorching days last summer, Lyndsay MacKay would pick up her 16-month-old child at daycare only to find him in a diaper, with sweaty skin and hair stuck to his head. The child would often be exhausted, sometimes falling asleep at the dinner table. Despite the efforts of daycare staff to keep the children cool with ice cubes, popsicles, dimmed rooms, and cool cloths, MacKay felt that the children were still struggling to cope with the heat.
As a mother from Toronto and an early childhood education professor at Humber Polytechnic, MacKay is part of a growing movement advocating for a maximum indoor temperature at daycares across Canada, similar to the 26°C standard set for long-term care facilities in Ontario.
Infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heatstroke due to their higher metabolism and less efficient sweat glands. Recognizing the signs of heat illness in young children can be challenging as they may exhibit symptoms like fatigue, flushed skin, irritability, and difficulty walking.
Ensuring a safe environment in daycares during extreme heat is essential for the well-being of children, emphasized by Dr. Kirstin Weerdenburg, a pediatrician at Halifax’s IWK Health Centre. Educators like Amy O’Neil, executive director of Treetop Children’s Centre in Toronto, stress the importance of maintaining safe indoor temperatures for children’s safety rather than mere comfort.
While some provinces have guidelines for maintaining a healthy and safe environment in daycares, regulations regarding maximum indoor temperatures are often vague or nonexistent. Lobbyists are pushing for legislation to establish maximum temperature limits in daycares, citing the increasing frequency of extreme heat events and the potential risks to children’s health.
With summers expected to get hotter, monitoring indoor temperatures in daycares and providing proper cooling systems are crucial steps to safeguard children. Advocates recommend revisiting temperature thresholds periodically to align with evolving climate conditions. The rising incidence of wildfires further underscores the urgency of addressing heat-related issues in childcare settings.
In response to the escalating heat challenges, childcare providers like Kate Lawes in Victoria have had to adapt by implementing measures like heat pumps and modifying outdoor activities to ensure children’s well-being. The implementation of appropriate cooling solutions in daycares is essential to prevent heat-related illnesses and ensure a safe environment for children to thrive.