What to Do If Your Child Suffered from Heatstroke at a Houston Daycare

Houston’s hot and humid climate can lead to dangerous health incidents such as heatstroke for children. In fact, between 1999 and 2022, 154 people died from heat-related causes in Harris County, ranking the city third in the state, according to the Texas Tribune.

This number includes three Houston-area children between the ages of 10 months and 5 years old who passed away from heatstroke in 2022, according to the nonprofit NoHeatStroke.org.

The Texas Department of Health and Human Services has named heatstroke as a leading cause of non-crash-related deaths among children younger than 15, and that includes young children in Houston daycare centers.

Our experienced Houston daycare injury lawyers have seen firsthand how innocent children can experience life-altering injuries from heatstroke incidents at daycare centers throughout Houston and cities in the surrounding area, including Atascocita, Bellaire, Clear Lake, Conroe, Cypress, Deer Park, Friendswood, Humble, Jersey Village, Katy, Lake Jackson, League City, Missouri City, Pasadena, Pearland, Richmond, Rosenberg, Spring, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Tomball.

That is why we help Houston families get justice and hold responsible parties accountable after a child suffers from heatstroke while in the care of a local daycare facility.

How Do Children Get Heatstroke at Houston Daycare Centers?

In case you aren’t familiar with heatstroke, it can happen when a child’s body temperature rises above its normal range due to exposure to high temperatures. A KHOU story warning Houstonians about this dangerous health condition cautions that heatstroke can happen fairly quickly, with younger children at a higher risk.

In a daycare setting, heatstroke incidents can happen when Houston daycare centers:

• Don’t allow or provide children with enough water or other fluids like Gatorade to drink to keep their bodies hydrated
• Leave a child locked in a hot daycare van or bus
• Leave children outside for recess or playtime too long on a hot day

What Happens When Children Get Heatstroke?

As we have already established, heatstroke can be a life-threatening condition, especially for children. It is the most serious form of hyperthermia. When a child’s body reaches over 104 degrees, they may experience:

• Brain damage
• Dizziness or confusion
• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Organ failure
• Rapid heartbeat

Once a child’s body temperature reaches 107 degrees, heatstroke becomes deadly.

How Can Heatstroke Incidents at Houston Daycares Be Prevented?

Preventing heatstroke incidents at daycare centers in Houston is easy when the childcare facilities comply with state requirements, including:  

• Conducting multiple face-to-name checks to ensure all children are accounted for after a ride in a daycare van or bus and after time spent out on a playground on a hot day
• Maintaining safe staff-to-child ratios
• Proper training of daycare workers on safety standards, including travel safety and how to spot symptoms of heatstroke

Parents, like you, can also protect their children from heatstroke by:

• Dressing them in in lightweight, light-colored clothing
• Sending a loose-fitting hat with their child to wear for recess or any outdoor excursions
• Teaching the importance of drinking water to stay hydrated in the summer months, even if they don’t feel thirsty

The Houston Fire Department has also compiled a list of additional tips to help prevent heatstroke, no matter how hot the temperatures rise.

What Should I Do If My Child Suffers from Heatstroke at a Daycare in Houston?

Because of the serious nature of heatstroke, these incidents can be traumatic for a child and parents. Our experienced Houston daycare injury lawyers have compiled a list of four steps parents can take if their child gets heatstroke at a daycare center:

1. Seek medical attention immediately by taking your child to an emergency room, urgent care center, or pediatrician’s office. If a child is still breathing, doctors can check for any internal damage to the brain, heart, and other organs.
2. Report the incident to the state. Heatstroke incidents at Houston daycare centers can occur due to a lack of child supervision. Reasons can include inappropriate caregiver-to-child ratios and improper training. You can report allegations of daycare neglect to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) by calling the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800-252-5400 or submitting a report online at TXAbuseHotline.org.
3. Document any information from the incident by keeping track of all correspondence from the childcare facility and its workers. Screenshot text messages and emails discussing the incident, take pictures or make copies of any letters from the daycare or its workers, and make detailed notes of any phone calls with the daycare as they occur. While it may be overwhelming to remember these steps when you are more concerned about your child’s health and well-being, keeping a file of correspondence can benefit your family’s legal case to hold the daycare accountable for your child’s heatstroke and related injuries.
4. Contact our experienced daycare injury lawyers by calling 281-857-6116 or filling out a contact form. Your family may be eligible for compensation to cover your child’s medical expenses, therapy and other helpful resources, and pain and suffering. We are ready to listen and advise your family on the best approach to hold the daycare accountable and get justice for your child’s traumatic experience and injuries. However, there is a two-year time limit for filing a personal injury claim in Texas, so reach out to our team as soon as possible.

How Our Houston Daycare Injury Lawyers Can Help After Your Child Experiences Heatstroke at Daycare

Our team of experienced and compassionate Houston daycare injury attorneys at The Button Law Firm is dedicated to advocating for you and your family if your child experiences heatstroke while in the care of a Houston daycare center or childcare facility. With attorneys in Houston, we are ready to listen and fight for your family. 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 case evaluation.