A heat dome has settled over Texas, while wildfire smoke has begun to pollute the air in the East and Midwest. These alarming signs serve as a wake-up call that our children’s summers will be drastically different from our own. In this episode, we have a conversation with esteemed climate writer Emma Pattee about the threshold at which it becomes too hot for children to venture outside. Despite the limited research available and the prevailing misconceptions, experts are working diligently to understand how and why children suffer in extreme heat so that we may better prepare for the reality of our changing climate.
Pattee, who spent her childhood partly living in a tent surrounded by the comforting presence of trees, had always envisioned her own children experiencing the same connection to nature. However, her work as a climate writer has forced her to confront the fact that the idyllic summers we imagined for our children are nothing more than fantasies. Our blueprint for their lives has become detached from reality, and our children will undoubtedly lead vastly different lives than we have.
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The following transcript provides a deeper understanding of the issues discussed in this episode:
Emma Pattee: It’s concerning to witness how they constantly douse these kids with water to prevent heat-related illnesses during the 30 minutes between when they’re dropped off by the bus and when their parents pick them up. As a mother, I can’t help but wonder if this is the future I want for my child. These are the difficult questions we must grapple with.
Hanna Rosin: I’m Hanna Rosin, and welcome to Radio Atlantic. We often hold romantic notions about childhood and what summer should entail. It conjures up images of children enjoying their time outdoors, frolicking in ponds, discovering tadpoles, and attending nature camps. Even city kids attempt to learn outdoor skills, hoping to become more self-reliant in the face of an uncertain future. Unfortunately, these idyllic visions often clash with the harsh realities of today’s scorching summers. With temperatures soaring to 107 degrees in Texas and 105 degrees in Louisiana, our plans for our children’s summers must be reevaluated. A few summers ago, an unprecedented heat wave trapped Emma Pattee, a climate writer, and her newborn baby in their house for days. This experience left a lasting impact on Pattee and her fellow moms in Portland.
Rosin: Emma, you mentioned something interesting about your experience with a Facebook moms’ group during the summer. Can you share more about that?
Pattee: Absolutely. Being a mom comes with the territory of joining local Facebook moms’ groups. Last summer, I noticed an influx of discussions surrounding the question, “How hot is too hot for my child to be outside?” The conversations ranged from summer camp counselors sending children home due to heat concerns to parents seeking advice on whether their child’s symptoms amounted to heat stroke. It became evident to me that no one had concrete answers, and everyone was swimming in a sea of confusion and panic.
Rosin: It sounds like people were unclear about the dangers associated with extreme heat. They were stuck in a state of information void, torn between the idealized notion of children spending summers outdoors and the fear that such activities could be detrimental to their well-being. Has this been the first time you’ve witnessed such a collective response from moms during the summer?
Pattee: Yes, it was. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where outdoor activities have always been ingrained in our culture. However, I’ve noticed a significant shift recently. Even playgrounds remain empty during the summer months, and my children now receive invitations to indoor birthday parties. These changes in behavior and attitudes surrounding summer made me realize that this topic is worth exploring further.
Regions with consistently high temperatures have developed adaptive behaviors over centuries and generations. Their cultures have adjusted to extreme heat conditions.
Rosin: You mentioned that you had a newborn during that heat wave. Could you elaborate on your experience during that time?
Pattee: Indeed. I had just given birth, and the air conditioning in my house was blasting. The main concern was whether the air conditioning would be sufficient for us to stay indoors. However, the temperatures kept climbing: 99 degrees, then 95 degrees, then 100 degrees, and finally, 102 degrees. It seemed like an endless cycle. Having a baby already poses intense challenges, and extreme weather events like this only amplify the emotional and mental strains. As I held my newborn in the darkness, with shades drawn and the loud hum of the air conditioning, I couldn’t help but question my decision to have a second child as a climate writer.
Rosin: It’s been a while since I’ve had babies, but why couldn’t you go outside with the baby in the heat?
Pattee: Babies are unable to regulate their body temperature effectively, and their ability to sweat efficiently is not yet developed. It was only possible for me to take my baby outside for an hour between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. We would then remain inside until the following morning at 6 a.m.
Rosin: That must have felt incredibly claustrophobic. Do you recall the mental state you were in during that period?
Pattee: The mental state during that time was dark, to say the least. It was exacerbated by my older child, who yearned to go to the park and play. He would peer through the window, watching the neighboring children hopping on pogo sticks. I had to explain to him repeatedly that it was too hot to go outside. Even now, he occasionally opens the front door and extends his hand, convinced that it’s not too hot. I don’t want to exaggerate my experience; there are certainly individuals enduring far more significant challenges each day. However, it was a situation I had not anticipated and took me by surprise.
Rosin: When wildfires in Canada caused smoke to permeate the air on the East Coast, my children’s school sent an email informing us that all outdoor activities were suspended. It was a glimpse into the potential reality that our kids’ summers may not align with the ones we experienced. Could you share a bit about your own upbringing and your connection with nature?
Pattee: Certainly. I grew up on 40 acres of land in southern Oregon, surrounded by dense woods. For a summer, my family lived in a grand army tent on a wooden platform before my dad built a cabin. Initially, we lacked running water and a functional toilet. I spent my days exploring the woods, going on hikes, and developing a deep connection with nature. The trees, the fields, and the land felt like my own. Instead of a generic love for nature, it was a profound affection for this specific piece of land.
We often think of children having relationships with stuffed animals, but for me, nature was my companion.
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