Heat is harder on kids. Heres what you should look out for: WSOC TV [Video]

CHARLOTTE — In the heat of summer, kids still want to play, but medical experts want parents and caregivers to know anytime the heat index is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it poses a significant health risk.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children haven’t yet developed the mechanisms adults have to regulate their body temperatures. Their metabolisms burn energy faster, they don’t sweat as much, and often they don’t recognize signs of heat stress in their bodies until it starts to take a toll.

For Dr. Kristin McGill at Levine Children’s Hospital, this time of year sees a spike in emergency department visits from children with symptoms of heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Last year, North Carolina emergency departments saw 3,925 cases of heat-related illnesses, about 10 percent of those were from children under 18.

“They can look like they’re kind of panting or breathe faster,” she said. “They can become weak or feel like they’re becoming faint they may have lower energy.”

McGill said …