As Mississippi grapples with a prolonged wave of extreme summer heat, public health officials are issuing urgent warnings to pregnant women and families with young children to implement rigorous safety precautions against heat-related illness.
Jillian Harper, director of Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies at the Mississippi State Department of Health, said pregnancy can make women more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses because their bodies are working harder to cool both mother and baby.
Tiara Jackson
Extreme heat poses critical risks to pregnant women and children in Mississippi
“Pregnancy can make you more likely to get sick when it's very hot,” Harper said. She said carrying another person puts additional strain on the body, which can lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke when someone is exposed to heat for too long.
Harper said even one day of extreme heat can cause problems. She said an increase in a pregnant woman's internal body temperature, along with dehydration and other symptoms, can put both mother and baby at risk.
“Mom can have a risk of high blood pressure,” Harper said. She added that an elevated internal temperature “can lead to birth defects on down the line” if the heat exposure continues or becomes severe.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion can include dizziness or fainting, headaches, excessive sweating, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps and a rapid heartbeat, Harper said.
She recommends pregnant women move to a cool place, drink plenty of water and use cool towels if they begin experiencing symptoms. If symptoms do not improve within 30 minutes, she says they should contact their health care provider. More serious symptoms, including fainting, difficulty breathing, decreased fetal movement or contractions that don't stop, require medical attention.
Harper recommends pregnant women drink at least 64 ounces, or eight to 12 cups, of water a day. She also advises wearing loose, lightweight clothing, taking breaks in the shade and spending time in air-conditioned spaces when possible.
Young children face another heat-related danger: being left inside vehicles.
Jim Pollard, public affairs manager for AMR Central Mississippi, said children can absorb heat three to five times faster than adults because their bodies have a greater skin surface area relative to their size and their heat regulation systems are not fully developed.
Pollard said vehicles can also become dangerously hot within minutes, even when temperatures outside don't initially seem extreme.
“Even if the outside temperature is 70 degrees, the car can run up above 100 very quickly, like within a matter of just minutes,” Pollard said.
The consequences can continue even when a child survives. Pollard said that since 1990, about 1,800 children in the United States have died after being overheated in hot vehicles, while about 7,500 others survived with varying levels of disability, including brain damage.
Pollard urges parents and caregivers never to leave a child in a vehicle, even if the air conditioning is running or a window is cracked. He recommends using reminders, such as placing a phone, purse or other item in the back seat, to help ensure children aren't accidentally forgotten.
As temperatures remain high, health officials say taking simple precautions can help protect Mississippi's most vulnerable residents from the dangers of extreme heat.