There is nothing quite like the buzz in a creche when the sun finally comes out in Ireland. Sandpits fill up, water trays appear, and outdoor learning takes over for the day. But when Met Eireann issues a Status Yellow high temperature warning, that same sunshine brings real responsibility for early years teams. Babies and young children regulate their body temperature far less efficiently than adults, which means a hot day that feels pleasant to staff can quickly become risky for the children in their care.
That is exactly where clear, practical heatwave safety tips creche Ireland providers can rely on make all the difference. You do not need to panic or cancel outdoor play altogether. You need a simple, well-rehearsed plan that your whole team can follow calmly, one that keeps you compliant with Tusla expectations and keeps every child comfortable and safe. This guide walks through exactly that, from the policy you should already have in place, right through to spotting the early signs of heat illness.
Policy and Preparation: Before the Heat Hits
Your Extreme Weather Policy
Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, every registered provider is required to have policies in place covering the safety and welfare of children in all conditions, and an extreme weather policy preschool settings can point to during a Tusla inspection is one of the clearest ways to demonstrate this. This policy should set out, in plain language, what your service does differently when temperatures rise, who is responsible for checking conditions, and at what point outdoor play is restricted or paused altogether.
Tusla's own guidance document, "Keeping Children Safe and Comfortable Indoors and Outdoors in All Weathers," is a useful reference point when drafting or reviewing this policy, and it pairs well with HSE SunSmart recommendations on sun protection for children. If your service does not yet have a dedicated policy for this, our ready-made Outdoor Play Policy and our Extreme Weather Pack are both built specifically to help Irish settings meet this requirement without starting from a blank page.
Conducting a Daily Hot Weather Risk Assessment
Alongside your written policy, a quick hot weather risk assessment childcare staff carry out each morning during a warm spell is what actually keeps children safe day to day. This does not need to be lengthy. A simple daily check should include:
- Reading indoor room thermometers, particularly in sleep rooms and rooms with large windows
- Checking playground equipment, metal fixtures and artificial grass for burn risk before children go outside barefoot or in shorts
- Confirming that shaded areas are genuinely usable (not blocked by equipment or overgrown)
- Reviewing the day's planned activities and adjusting timing so vigorous outdoor play happens earlier or later in the day
We have a dedicated Hot Weather / Heatwave Risk Assessment template available if you would like a structured, printable version your team can complete each morning and file as evidence of good practice.
The Practical Heatwave Checklist
Once your policy and risk assessment are in place, the day-to-day checklist below covers the four areas that matter most during a heatwave.
Indoor Environment and Ventilation
- Open windows early in the morning while the air outside is still cool, then close them along with blinds or curtains once direct sun hits the room
- Use fans to circulate air, but never point a fan directly at a sleeping child, and keep cords and fixtures well out of reach
- Move activities away from rooms with large, unshaded windows during the hottest part of the day
- Keep a thermometer visible in each room so staff can check temperatures at a glance rather than guessing
Hydration and Nutrition
- Offer water little and often throughout the day rather than waiting for children to ask
- For infants under 6 months, offer breastmilk or formula more frequently than usual, as this is their primary source of hydration in hot weather
- Keep an eye on wet nappies as a simple, reliable indicator of adequate fluid intake in babies
- Offer water-rich snacks such as melon, cucumber or orange segments alongside the usual menu
Outdoor Play and the 5 S's
- Schedule: restrict outdoor play during peak sun hours, generally 11am to 3pm, and move outdoor sessions earlier or later in the day instead
- Sunscreen: apply SPF 50+ suitable for children, reapplying according to the product's guidance, especially after water play
- Sunhats: wide-brimmed or legionnaire-style hats that shade the face, ears and neck, rather than baseball caps which leave the neck and ears exposed
- Shade: make full use of trees, gazebos or canopies, and rotate activities so no child spends long periods in direct sun
- Sips: keep water bottles or cups within easy reach throughout outdoor sessions, not just at the start
Safe Sleep Adjustments
- Keep sleep rooms for infants under 12 months within the recommended 16°C to 20°C range wherever possible
- Remove heavy blankets or bedding and switch to a lower tog sleep bag suited to the weather
- Dress babies in light, breathable layers rather than relying solely on the sleep bag to regulate temperature
- Check sleeping children more frequently than usual, and keep a note of these checks as part of your daily records
Heatwave Safety Tips Creche Ireland Staff Should Know By Heart
Beyond the checklist itself, the single most valuable heatwave safety habit any Irish creche team can build is confidence in recognising the early warning signs of heat-related illness, because catching it early is what keeps a hot day from ever becoming an emergency.
Health Monitoring: Spotting the Signs Early
Recognising heat illness in children early is genuinely one of the most important skills a team can build before summer sets in, and the good news is that the signs are learnable and the difference between the two main conditions is clear once you know what to look for.
Heat Exhaustion tends to develop gradually and includes:
- Tiredness or unusual irritability
- Intense thirst
- Pale, clammy or sweaty skin
- Headache or slight dizziness
- Cramps in the arms or legs
If you notice these signs, move the child to a cool, shaded or air-conditioned area straight away, offer small sips of water, loosen or remove excess clothing, and cool the skin gently with a damp cloth or cool (not cold) water. Most children recover well within thirty minutes with this simple response.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency and looks quite different:
- A high body temperature, often above 40°C
- Confusion, unusual drowsiness or difficulty rousing the child
- Hot, dry skin with little or no sweating
- Rapid breathing or a rapid pulse
If you suspect heatstroke, call 999 or 112 immediately. While waiting for help, move the child to the coolest available space, remove outer clothing, and sponge or fan the skin with cool water to bring the body temperature down as quickly and safely as possible. Do not offer food or drink if the child is drowsy or confused.
Having a simple visual reminder of these signs displayed in your staff room can make a real difference in a busy moment. Our Recognising and Responding to Heat-Related Illness in Children poster is designed for exactly this, a quick, clear reference your whole team can glance at without needing to search through a folder.
Conclusion
Heatwaves in Ireland tend to arrive quickly and catch settings slightly off guard precisely because they are not the norm. But a small amount of preparation goes a long way. With a clear extreme weather policy, a quick daily risk assessment, a practical checklist your team already knows by heart, and confidence in spotting the early signs of heat illness, hot weather becomes something your service can handle calmly rather than something to dread.
Now is a good time to pull up your current weather policy and give it a quick review before the next warm spell arrives. If you need a starting point, our Health, Safety and Medical resources and Records, Policies and Toolkits collections are there to help you get compliant and confident well before summer peaks.
