• Education
    • Higher Education
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • Online Learning
    • School Reforms
    • Research & Innovation
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Home & Living
    • Relationships & Family
  • Technology & Startups
    • Software & Apps
    • Startup Success Stories
    • Startups & Innovations
    • Tech Regulations
    • Venture Capital
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Gadgets & Devices
    • Industry Analysis
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Today Headline
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
Today Headline
No Result
View All Result
Home Science & Environment Climate Change

The hidden ways heat threatens pets, children, and older adults » Yale Climate Connections

July 31, 2025
in Climate Change
Reading Time: 5 mins read
A A
0
A graphic that shows a list of some common medications that may interact with heat. The list is also available at https://www.cdc.gov/heat-health/hcp/clinical-guidance/heat-and-medications-guidance-for-clinicians.html
3
SHARES
6
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


When temperatures soar, not everyone’s body handles the heat the same way – and for some, the risks can be severe.

Although heat waves threaten everyone, children, pets, and elderly family and friends face disproportionate dangers, each for distinct physiological reasons that every parent, pet-owner, and watchful friend should understand. And as climate change intensifies heat waves across the globe, understanding who faces the greatest risk – and how to help them – is a matter of life and death.

Children: Developing systems under stress

Children’s bodies are fundamentally different heat-processing machines than those of adults. Their surface area-to-body weight ratio is much higher than ours, meaning they absorb heat from the environment more rapidly. Paradoxically, this same ratio should help them cool down faster – but their immature temperature-regulation systems can’t keep up with the demand.

Young children produce more metabolic heat per kilogram of body weight, yet their sweat glands are smaller and less efficient. They also have a higher core temperature threshold before sweating begins, essentially giving them a narrower margin of safety.

Infants face additional risks. Their kidneys are still developing, making them more susceptible to dehydration, while their larger heads and thinner skulls provide less protection for temperature-sensitive brain tissue.

Perhaps most critically, children depend entirely on adults for heat protection – they can’t recognize early heat stress symptoms, seek shade independently, or adequately hydrate themselves.

WHAT TO DO: Watch for signs like fussiness, decreased urination, or unusual lethargy, and immediately move children to cool environments while offering frequent small sips of water (or breast milk or formula for infants).

Pets: Silent sufferers with limited cooling options

Dogs and cats evolved different cooling mechanisms than humans, making them particularly vulnerable to our warming world. Dogs primarily cool through panting and limited sweating through their paw pads – far less efficient than human perspiration. Their normal body temperature runs two to three degrees higher than ours, giving them less buffer before dangerous overheating sets in.

Flat-faced, or brachycephalic, breeds such as pugs, bulldogs, and Persian cats face additional risks due to their shortened airways, which impede efficient panting. Dark-colored animals absorb more heat, while thick-coated breeds struggle to release it.

Unlike humans, pets can’t communicate their distress clearly or take protective actions like removing clothing or seeking air conditioning.

Ground temperature poses an often-overlooked threat. Asphalt can reach 150°F on a 90°F day, causing severe paw burns within seconds – a risk owners frequently underestimate because they’re wearing protective shoes.

WHAT TO DO: If you see your pet walking strangely, lifting paws repeatedly, or moving at an irregular pace, their paws may be burning. Immediately guide them onto grass, dirt, or into shade, and consider carrying small dogs on hot pavement. Devin Newman, a vet at Bush Animal Hospital in Eugene, Oregon, who is also my brother-in-law, says that if you cannot put your hand against the pavement for 10 seconds, then it’s too hot for a dog.

Don’t leave animals (or children!) in a hot car, even for a few minutes. Be mindful before breaking glass on someone else’s car, however, as some newer cars have a pet setting to keep dogs and cats comfortable.

Elderly: Aging bodies, diminished defenses

Aging brings multiple changes that reduce the body’s heat tolerance. As people age, their hearts pump less blood with each beat, making it harder for their cardiovascular system to move blood to the skin for cooling. Their sweat production declines, and their skin becomes thinner and less effective at temperature regulation.

Chronic conditions common in older adults – diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems – can make it harder for their bodies to stay cool. Many essential medications, including diuretics, beta-blockers, and antihistamines, interfere with the body’s natural cooling system or increase dehydration risk. Changes to a person’s memory and thinking patterns can make it harder to notice heat danger signs or know how to respond appropriately. Living alone may leave elderly individuals without help during dangerous heat events, while fixed incomes might force impossible choices between air conditioning and other necessities.

WHAT TO DO: Check on elderly relatives or neighbors daily during heat waves. Ensure they have access to air conditioning or cooling centers and help them identify early warning signs like dizziness, nausea, or confusion that warrant immediate cooling and medical attention.

A graphic that shows a list of some common medications that may interact with heat. The list is also available at https://www.cdc.gov/heat-health/hcp/clinical-guidance/heat-and-medications-guidance-for-clinicians.html

The climate connection

These vulnerabilities matter more than ever because extreme heat events are becoming more frequent, intense, and prolonged. What were once rare heat waves are becoming regular summer occurrences, and previously safe temperatures are becoming dangerous when sustained over days. Understanding these distinct risk factors empowers us to protect our most vulnerable loved ones through targeted prevention – from never leaving children or pets in cars to ensuring elderly relatives have cooling plans and social check-ins during heat waves.

In our rapidly warming world, this knowledge isn’t just helpful – it’s essential for keeping our families safe.

Creative Commons LicenseCreative Commons License

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.

!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js’);
fbq(‘init’, ‘568493883318626’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’, {“page_title”:”The hidden ways heat threatens pets, children, and older adults”,”user_role”:”guest”,”event_url”:”https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/07/the-hidden-ways-heat-threatens-pets-children-and-older-adults”,”post_type”:”post”,”post_id”:131007});

Tags: heatJennifer Marlon
Previous Post

Rates of sports betting, problem gambling show increase among monthly gamblers in Massachusetts in 2024

Next Post

SpaceX launches 19 Starlink satellites from California, lands rocket on ship at sea

Related Posts

uk wind farm

UK Climate Lobby Losing Control As Net Zero Costs Hit British Households

August 1, 2025
6
A topographic map shows a vaguely round blob of hot air over a map of the United States

Is ‘heat dome’ overhyped? Why some meteorologists dislike this term » Yale Climate Connections

August 1, 2025
9
Next Post
a black and white rocket rests on the deck of a ship at sea

SpaceX launches 19 Starlink satellites from California, lands rocket on ship at sea

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

April 2, 2025
Pioneering 3D printing project shares successes

Product reduces TPH levels to non-hazardous status

November 27, 2024

Police ID man who died after Corso Italia fight

December 23, 2024

Hospital Mergers Fail to Deliver Better Care or Lower Costs, Study Finds todayheadline

December 31, 2024
Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power

Harris tells supporters ‘never give up’ and urges peaceful transfer of power

0
Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend's Mother

Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother

0

Trump ‘looks forward’ to White House meeting with Biden

0
Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

0
Hot dog spill shuts down highway in Pennsylvania commuters' wurst nightmare

Hot dog spill shuts down highway in Pennsylvania commuters’ wurst nightmare

August 2, 2025
What is the future of the MAGA movement without Donald Trump? : The NPR Politics Podcast : NPR

What is the future of the MAGA movement without Donald Trump? : The NPR Politics Podcast : NPR

August 2, 2025
Sevastova topples Pegula as Osaka advances to fourth round in Montreal

Sevastova topples Pegula as Osaka advances to fourth round in Montreal

August 2, 2025
Indonesian president frees hundreds of prisoners as part of unity plan

Indonesian president frees hundreds of prisoners as part of unity plan

August 2, 2025

Recent News

Hot dog spill shuts down highway in Pennsylvania commuters' wurst nightmare

Hot dog spill shuts down highway in Pennsylvania commuters’ wurst nightmare

August 2, 2025
4
What is the future of the MAGA movement without Donald Trump? : The NPR Politics Podcast : NPR

What is the future of the MAGA movement without Donald Trump? : The NPR Politics Podcast : NPR

August 2, 2025
2
Sevastova topples Pegula as Osaka advances to fourth round in Montreal

Sevastova topples Pegula as Osaka advances to fourth round in Montreal

August 2, 2025
6
Indonesian president frees hundreds of prisoners as part of unity plan

Indonesian president frees hundreds of prisoners as part of unity plan

August 2, 2025
4

TodayHeadline is a dynamic news website dedicated to delivering up-to-date and comprehensive news coverage from around the globe.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Basketball
  • Business & Finance
  • Climate Change
  • Crime & Justice
  • Cybersecurity
  • Economic Policies
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Policies
  • Europe
  • Football
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Health
  • Medical Research
  • Mental Health
  • Middle East
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Politics
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Science & Environment
  • Software & Apps
  • Space Exploration
  • Sports
  • Stock Market
  • Technology & Startups
  • Tennis
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Us & Canada
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • World News

Recent News

Hot dog spill shuts down highway in Pennsylvania commuters' wurst nightmare

Hot dog spill shuts down highway in Pennsylvania commuters’ wurst nightmare

August 2, 2025
What is the future of the MAGA movement without Donald Trump? : The NPR Politics Podcast : NPR

What is the future of the MAGA movement without Donald Trump? : The NPR Politics Podcast : NPR

August 2, 2025
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Technology & Startups
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Todayheadline.co

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Business & Finance
  • Corporate News
  • Economic Policies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Market Trends
  • Crime & Justice
  • Court Cases
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Cybercrime
  • Legal Reforms
  • Policing
  • Education
  • Higher Education
  • Online Learning
  • Entertainment
  • Awards & Festivals
  • Celebrity News
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Health
  • Fitness & Nutrition
  • Medical Breakthroughs
  • Mental Health
  • Pandemic Updates
  • Lifestyle
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Living
  • Politics
  • Elections
  • Government Policies
  • International Relations
  • Legislative News
  • Political Parties
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Industry Analysis
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Policies
  • Medical Research
  • Science & Environment
  • Space Exploration
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • Sports
  • Tennis
  • Technology & Startups
  • Software & Apps
  • Startup Success Stories
  • Startups & Innovations
  • Tech Regulations
  • Venture Capital
  • Uncategorized
  • World News
  • Us & Canada
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Travel
  • Research & Innovation
  • Scholarships & Grants
  • School Reforms
  • Stock Market
  • TV & Streaming
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • About us
  • Contact

© 2024 Todayheadline.co