ABSTRACT
Although children's heat-related mortality risk is lower than elderly's, children are physiologically susceptible to heat exposure and a substantial proportion of ambulance car visits are expected to be occupied by children. This burden would be critical under COVID-19 turmoil, which has already seriously damaged the emergency medical system. Heat impact on children begins before birth;placental abruption, premature rupture of membrane, preterm delivery, stillbirth, low birth weight, and congenital cataract are reported to be related to heat exposure. After birth, emergency visits are related to heat exposure as well. The emergency visits were caused by heat-related illness, general symptoms, infectious diseases, injury, and respiratory diseases. The relation for heatstroke emergency visits was hockey stick type, and higher school-age children had a much higher risk, compared with lower age group children. Mortality risk, mainly external causes, was also associated with heat, but because of the small number of daily deaths, the results were not consistent. A larger multicity study is necessary for robust evidence.