Stay Cool, Stay Active: Daycares and Youth Sports Adapt to Triple-Digit Heat

Extraordinary Measures to Keep Children Safe in Extreme Heat

As heat index values soar, making it feel like 107 degrees, daycare centers across the Carolinas are implementing extraordinary measures to protect children from the extreme heat. Officials have issued excessive heat warnings, prompting local childcare providers to take proactive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in their care.

Many daycare centers are either limiting outdoor time or keeping children indoors entirely. This approach is aimed at reducing exposure to the intense heat while still providing engaging activities that keep the children active and entertained.

Connie St. Cyr, owner of Little Saints Academy in Rock Hill, emphasized the importance of keeping children cool. "If it's too hot in the morning, we will not go out," she said. Her facility, like many others in the region, is following expert recommendations by avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat hours. Instead, staff members are developing indoor alternatives to keep the children engaged.

St. Cyr shared some of the creative ways her team keeps the kids occupied. "We do indoor crafts, play kickball in the hallway, have chalk, and have bubbles. We have fun games with dominoes, and we give them prizes, whoever encounters the highest," she explained. The goal is to keep the children as cool and occupied as possible.

Medical professionals stress the importance of these precautions, noting that children are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Dr. Carlos Paxtor, a pediatrician with Piedmont Medical Center, highlighted the risks. "The problem with children is that they cannot tell you, and they are enjoying the time they are having fun," he said. "They don't know they are being exposed to something that will be detrimental to their health."

Dr. Paxtor emphasized that limiting outdoor activity is crucial during the current conditions. "We have to try to avoid being outdoors when the heat is at this high index, because this is not safe for anyone," he added.

The heat concerns extend beyond daycare centers as North Carolina high school football practices are scheduled to begin. Youth sports organizations across the Carolinas are implementing additional safety protocols to protect young athletes.

At Tuesday morning's Safe at Home Youth Baseball Clinic at Truist Field, organizers prioritized hydration and frequent breaks. Kristy O'Connor, marketing manager at CPI Security, noted the importance of water breaks. "It is hot outside, but that's why we're making sure that we're taking those water breaks seriously," she said. "We're taking breaks every 15 minutes. Kids are getting lots of water breaks. They can take a break in the shade whenever they need to."

Football coaches are also adjusting their approach as the season begins. Jammie Deese, head football coach at Forest Hills High School, mentioned that his team is implementing multiple hydration stations and emphasizing preparation. "For our guys, it's understanding, hey, in between reps, if you need to go get it. And you know, we've got multiple stations set up across the fields on either side of the field, to where it's easily accessible, where players that have to jog 200 yards to go get water," Deese said.

The coach stressed that heat safety preparation begins before players arrive at practice. "Our concern is sometimes the you know, the heat beats you before you get out in the field, just because you're not prepared for it," Deese said. "So we're trying to make sure our players understand in the family how important is to get up, eat a meal, eat a meal the night before, make sure you're taking in all the fluids."

Forest Hills High School is set to begin its first practice Wednesday morning. Coach Deese said he has been in constant communication with his staff about recognizing signs of dehydration and continues to stress to players that safety takes priority over executing any play.