Children at Particular Risk in Heat, Study Finds
A recent report by the DAK Nordrhein-Westfalen, a German health insurance provider, has highlighted the increased risk of heat-related illnesses among children. The study, which analyzed the medical records of over 147,000 insured children and adolescents from 2017 to 2022, found that the risk of heat-related injuries, such as sunburn, heat cramps and exhaustion, increases significantly above 30°C, with a ninefold rise in risk at 30°C and a sevenfold rise at 25°C.
The report, which was reported in the Rheinische Post, also found that primary school children are the most affected, with a tenfold increase in risk. Newborns and infants are also at a higher risk, with a 16% increase in the need for respiratory treatment on hot days.
The head of the DAK Nordrhein-Westfalen, Klaus Overdiek, described the findings as a “clear wake-up call” and emphasized the need for effective measures to be taken in kindergartens, schools and outdoor recreational areas to protect children. The study’s findings underscore the importance of including children in the development of heat protection plans to ensure their safety in the face of rising temperatures.