On scorching days last summer, Lyndsay MacKay would often find her 16-month-old son at daycare in just a diaper, with sticky skin and hair matted to his head. Sometimes, he would drift off to sleep at the dinner table. Despite efforts by educators such as using ice cubes, popsicles, dimming lights, and applying cool cloths, MacKay, a mother from Toronto and an early childhood education professor at Humber Polytechnic, expressed concern that the children were still hot, sweaty, and exhausted, merely getting through the day.
MacKay is part of a growing movement in Canada advocating for a maximum indoor temperature in daycares, likely around 26 degrees Celsius, similar to standards applied in long-term care facilities in Ontario. Infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heatstroke due to their higher metabolism generating more body heat compared to adults. Their less efficient sweat glands make it challenging to cool down, and young children may not be able to communicate when they are overheated.
Dr. Kirstin Weerdenburg, a pediatrician at Halifax’s IWK Health Centre, emphasized the importance of recognizing signs of heat illness in children, such as fatigue, flushed skin, irritability, and difficulty walking. Although most cases can be managed at home with fluids and a cool environment, severe dehydration may require medical intervention, including IV fluids. Extreme heat exposure can lead to organ failure and heart complications.
Amy O’Neil, executive director of Toronto’s Treetop Children’s Centre, highlighted the stress educators face in monitoring children for signs of heatstroke, underscoring the necessity of air-conditioning in child care settings for safety rather than just comfort. While some progress has been made in addressing heat concerns in long-term care facilities, the issue remains unaddressed in daycare regulations.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford previously mentioned considering regulations on maximum indoor temperatures in daycares, but no concrete actions have been taken yet. Advocates stress the need for clear guidelines and funding to ensure children’s safety in increasingly warmer climates. With rising temperatures and the escalating risk of wildfires, maintaining safe indoor conditions in daycares is crucial for children’s health and well-being.
