What Are My Options in a Spring Daycare Heatstroke Case?

We’re nearing the end of one of the hottest summers in recent memory. With a record number of days with temperatures over 100 and “feels-like temperatures” in the 110s, everyone in Spring has been sweltering in this heat. It’s important to take necessary precautions, but it’s especially important for Spring daycare centers to take active measures to mitigate the risk of children suffering from heatstroke while in their care. And parents also need to be on watch for any signs that their child may be getting too much sun while in daycare.

What Conditions Can Overheating Cause in Children?

There are several similar but distinct conditions that can stem from children being overexposed to the sun or left in hot temperatures for too long, including:

• Heat rash. Our bodies produce sweat as a way to keep us cool. However, when we end up sweating too much, sometimes sweat pores can become clogged and create a rash on the skin, according to the Mayo Clinic. Heat rash feels like a painful prickling. Fortunately, heat rash is often mild and easily treatable. However, it can be the first sign of overexposure to heat.
• Sun poisoning. This is caused by extreme exposure to direct sunlight. While we’re all familiar with sunburned skin, sun poisoning is a more severe condition that can cause internal symptoms along with the external symptoms we usually associate with a sunburn. A child who is experiencing sun poisoning may have headaches, nausea, and dizziness, which can last for weeks if the exposure was severe.
• Heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion occurs when a person is so overexposed to heat that their body can no longer cool itself. Common heat exhaustion symptoms include dizziness and fatigue, a weak rapid pulse, and nausea among other possible symptoms. Heat exhaustion is like the last stop on the way to heatstroke and can easily turn into heatstroke if a daycare worker doesn’t notice and intervene quickly.
• Heatstroke. Heatstroke is the most serious form of heat injury, according to the Mayo Clinic. Heatstroke can be recognized when a body temperature reaches over 104 degrees. The child also experiences hot, dry skin, nausea, and rapid breathing, among other symptoms. If it goes unrecognized and untreated, especially in young children, heatstroke can result in severe, life-threatening injuries such as damage to major organs and muscles.

How Should Spring Daycare Centers Handle Overheating and Heatstroke?

Daycare centers in Spring should be familiar with the unique risks of caring for children in one of the hottest climates in the country. This includes providing training for caregivers on how to keep kids cool and safe on hot summer days, and how to identify the early symptoms of overheating conditions so children don’t progress all the way to life-threatening heatstroke. Some of the measures local daycares can take are:

• Limit the amount of time children spend outside when the temperature is over 90 degrees and keep them indoors when the temperature rises over 100.
• Ensure each child has water or a sports drink and is regularly drinking enough to replace what they sweat out in the heat.
• Keep an eye on each child’s coloring, monitoring for heat rash or flushing.
• Watch out for children who may be experiencing symptoms like nausea, dizziness, or fatigue, and immediately take the child out of the heat and bring them indoors to help  cool their core body temperature.

Caregivers at daycare centers in Spring should be proactive and get medical care for a child at an urgent care or the child’s pediatrician if they believe a child is suffering from heatstroke or another severe heat injury. A quick response is the best way to prevent longer-lasting ramifications of heatstroke.

If you suspect your child’s daycare center in Spring is not properly taking care of your child on hot days, call our daycare injury lawyers at 281-857-6116 for a free consultation.

What Can I Do If My Child Suffered a Heat Injury at a Spring Daycare?

Heatstroke and other heat-related injuries at Spring daycare centers are entirely preventable. You rightfully expect daycare workers to keep your little ones safe in these brutal Spring summers. If your child has suffered a severe heat condition such as heatstroke while in daycare, our daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm can help you navigate this difficult time and discuss your legal options.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Spring Attorney Who Specializes in Daycare Injuries

Our experienced and compassionate daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm can help you understand the full range of options you and your family can pursue if your child suffers heatstroke while in daycare in Spring. We are ready to listen, fight for your family, and help your family move forward. Our attorneys at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 281-857-6116 or fill out a contact form for a free consultation.