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Dubai summers are not to be taken lightly. Temperatures routinely push past 45°C, and for a child who has been playing outside for even thirty minutes, that heat can tip into something dangerous fast. High temperatures and extreme heat can cause children to become sick very quickly, leading to dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
Here is what parents in Dubai need to know.
A child's body heats up three to five times faster than an adult's. They also sweat less efficiently, which means their main cooling system is slower to kick in. Babies are less able to sweat when hot, and obese children have a decreased ability to give off heat. Small children also cannot tell you they feel unwell until things are already bad.
Heat-related illness in kids often begins quietly. On hot days, children will sweat, and as moisture on the skin evaporates, it takes some of the body's heat with it, but sweat might not be enough, especially if they don't drink enough water or if humidity is high. Body temperatures may begin to rise, which can make a child's heart race as it struggles to pump blood throughout the body.
Not all heat-related illnesses in kids look the same. It builds in stages, and catching it early is what keeps it from turning serious.
Heat cramps are usually the first sign. A child loses water and salt through sweat, causing muscles to cramp up and spasm. These are mild and generally something children can recover from quickly.
Heat exhaustion comes next. It usually appears when the body has lost too much fluid and salt but hasn't yet reached a dangerous internal temperature. Symptoms may include nausea, stomach aches or headaches, along with cramps and muscle spasms throughout the body.
Heat stroke in children is when things become an emergency. A child's major organs begin to shut down when their body temperature reaches 104°F (40°C), and it can be life-threatening if the temperature reaches 107°F (41.7°C). Signs of heat stroke in children include hot and dry skin, confusion, loss of consciousness, and very rapid breathing. If you notice these warning signs, call for emergency help immediately and start cooling them down while you wait.
If you suspect heatstroke in a child, call emergency services immediately. Move the child to a shaded area, remove restrictive clothing, and cover the skin with sheets soaked in cold water. Place ice packs in the armpits and groin. Give cool fluids, preferably an electrolyte-containing drink if available. Monitor body temperature and stop active cooling once it drops to 102°F (38.9°C).
Do not wait to see if the child improves on their own. Heat stroke progresses fast.
Prevention is far simpler than treatment. Most cases of heat stroke in children are avoidable.
Keep outdoor time away from peak hours: In Dubai, the heat between 11 AM and 4 PM is genuinely dangerous in summer. Schedule an outdoor activity for the early morning or evening.
Hydrate before thirst sets in: Thirst can be delayed until a person is almost dehydrated, so encourage children to drink water even when they don't feel thirsty. Children should always have a filled water bottle with them and water is a better choice over soda or juice. As a rough daily guide, toddlers need up to 4 cups a day, school-aged children up to 8 cups, and teens between 8 and 12 cups, though this varies with activity level and weather.
Dress them right: Choose loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Add a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect their skin and eyes. Use sun-protective clothing with a UPF(ultraviolet protection factor) of 50, along with broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of at least SPF (sun protection factor) 30 on any exposed skin, reapplied every two hours and after swimming or sweating.
Never leave a child in a parked car: Heatstroke can happen quickly and be fatal. Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even for a moment. In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up by 20°F. Cracking a window or parking in the shade does little to change the inside temperature once the engine is off.
Watch your teen athletes: Teen athletes who often practice during the hottest parts of the day need special attention. Advocate for more hydration breaks, shaded rest areas, and practice times outside of peak heat hours. Encourage teens to speak up about how they feel, even if symptoms of heat stroke seem minor, because the longer they push through, the worse the symptoms can become. Heat-related illness in kids, including teens, can escalate quickly when warning signs are ignored
Some situations warrant emergency services right away, such as unconsciousness, seizure, very high body temperature, or skin that is hot and dry without sweating.
For milder symptoms that are improving with rest, IV fluids and primary care, a doctor at home in Dubai can assess your child without the stress of a hospital trip. At First Response Healthcare, our team makes house calls across Dubai and can evaluate your child's condition, administer IV fluids if needed, and advise on next steps from the comfort of your home.
Summer in Dubai does not have to mean keeping children locked indoors. It just means being smart about when, how long, and how prepared you are when they go out.
