Texas is facing its hottest temperatures of the year.
Child Heatstroke and Heat-Related Illness at School: What You Need to Know
Kids are back in school as Texas has reached its peak temperatures for the year. Children are more vulnerable than adults to suffering heatstroke, and many children are hospitalized for heat-related illnesses each year.
If heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses go untreated at school or daycare, it can have lasting consequences for the child or even result in death. When this happens, the school or daycare may be responsible for your child’s injury.
Recognizing Heat-Related Injuries in Children
There are 3 major types of heat-related illnesses children suffer at school and in daycares:
- Heat Cramps — Heat cramps are severe muscle cramps that usually occur in the legs, stomach, and hands. Tightness and spasms may also occur in these areas. This heat reaction is not life-threatening and will clear up with plenty of fluids and electrolytes.
- Heat Exhaustion — Extreme dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion is usually a prerequisite to heatstroke and can be life-threatening if not promptly treated. At-home remedies are often enough to fully treat mild symptoms.
- Heatstroke — Heatstroke occurs when the body reaches temperatures of over 104°F. It is a medical emergency and is life-threatening.
Recognizing Heat Exhaustion in Children
Signs of heat exhaustion in children may include:
- An elevated body temperature (usually between 100˚ and 104˚F),
- Cool, clammy skin,
- Goosebumps,
- Fainting, dizziness, or weakness,
- Headache,
- Excessive sweating,
- Excessive thirst,
- Irritability,
- Muscle cramps,
- And nausea and/or vomiting.
Treatments include moving the child to a cooler or shady area, drinking plenty of fluids that contain electrolytes, and applying wet or cold towels to the underarms, chest, and back to speed the cooling process.
If the child begins to show signs of confusion or fainting, or if they are unable to drink, they should immediately be taken to the ER.
Recognizing Heatstroke in Children
Signs of heat stroke in children may include:
- Dangerously high body temperature (greater than 104°F),
- Lack of sweating,
- Confusion, disorientation,
- Flushed, hot, and dry skin (skin may be wet),
- Fainting,
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
- Rapid heartbeat and breathing,
- Severe headache,
- Seizures,
- And weakness and/or dizziness.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Immediately call 9-1-1 if a child is exhibiting signs of heatstroke.
While you wait for EMS, immediate first-aid treatments include:
- Taking the child to a cooler area (indoors or in the shade),
- Removing clothing (except for underwear),
- Don’t give any fluids if the child faints or is disoriented,
- Sponge body with cool water in high-heat areas (chest, underarms, neck, back, and groin areas).
Suing for Child Heatstroke Injuries
If negligence contributed to your child’s heatstroke injury at school or at daycare, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit.
Common acts of negligence that lead to child heatstroke injuries include:
- Lack of Proper Supervision
- Inadequate Safety Measures (or lack thereof)
- Failure to Recognize/Treat Symptoms
Schools and daycares have a responsibility to keep your children reasonably safe from harm. This includes ensuring proper supervision at all times, providing adequate safety measures against extreme heat, and recognizing and promptly treating heat-related symptoms.
Suing a school can be difficult, as there are special laws in place designed to protect them from most lawsuits. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t talk to a lawyer about your case. Heat-related illnesses can leave your child with permanent disabilities or result in death. If your child suffered a heatstroke injury at school or daycare in Texas, call Shaw.
Call Shaw for Your Child’s Heatstroke Injury at School or Daycare in Texas
You may be entitled to compensation for things like:
- Ambulance Costs,
- ER Treatment,
- Medical Bills,
- Ongoing Treatment,
- Disability,
- Pain and Suffering,
- Trauma/PTSD,
- Wrongful Death,
- And More.
We’ll help you find out if you have a case for free.
Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 to schedule your free case evaluation with one of our child injury attorneys. No fees, no obligations, just expert legal advice. We put our clients first because we care. We look forward to serving you.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.