Child Heat Deaths Expose Gaps in European Emergency Plans Built for the Elderly

Four toddlers died in France during the June 2026 heatwave, as Paris hit 40.9°C—a June record. The deaths reveal a structural vulnerability: European heat protocols, refined after the 2003 heatwave killed 70,000, prioritized elderly populations. Young children face distinct physiological risks—impaired thermoregulation, high surface-area-to-volume ratios, caregiver dependence. France's Plan Canicule focused on cooling centres for seniors. Paediatric safeguards have lagged, and extreme heat now regularly tests these frameworks.