Heat Resilience and Safe Outdoor Play in UAE Children: A New Frontier for Community Health Promotion

Unified Healthcare and Hospital Management Journal
Authors Names: Rabab Gad Abd El-kader,Sneha Pitre
Category: Abstract
Country: UAE
Journals Short Code: UHHJ

Unified Citation Journals, 4(1) 11-45; DOI: Crossref (10.52402/2754-0944)
ISSN 2754-0944     

Volume 2, Issue 3, March 15 2025
Received: December 10, 2025, Reviewed: December 12th, 2025, Accepted: December 15th, 2025, Published: April 01, 2026

Biography:

Associate Professor of Community Health Nursing, RAK College of Nursing, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, UAE.

 

ABSTRACT:

Background:

Climate change poses a significant threat to child health globally, particularly in heat-prone regions such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where extreme temperatures can exceed 50°C. Children are especially vulnerable to heat-related illnesses due to physiological and developmental factors. At the same time, safe outdoor play remains essential for their physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development. Balancing these competing priorities necessitates innovative, community-based health promotion strategies.

Aim:

This study aims to explore the determinants of heat resilience among children in the UAE, examine community and environmental factors influencing safe outdoor play, and highlight evidence-based, multi-sectoral strategies to enhance child health outcomes.

Methods:

A narrative review and conceptual analysis were conducted, integrating global evidence (WHO, UNICEF) with national policies and initiatives in the UAE. A multi-pillar community health promotion framework was applied, focusing on school, family, and community-level interventions, with emphasis on the role of community and school health nurses.

Results:

Findings indicate that children’s vulnerability to heat is driven by physiological factors (e.g., immature thermoregulation, higher metabolic rates), environmental exposures, and limited self-regulation abilities. Heat exposure is associated with increased risks of dehydration, heat exhaustion, respiratory conditions, and adverse cognitive and behavioral outcomes. The UAE has implemented comprehensive strategies, including heat-safety school policies, shaded and climate-adaptive play environments, national awareness campaigns, and real-time weather alert systems. Initiatives such as UNICEF’s “B.E.A.T the Heat” and the Sustainable Schools Program further support resilience through education and community engagement.

Conclusion:

Enhancing heat resilience while ensuring safe outdoor play requires an integrated, multi-sectoral approach. Community health nurses play a pivotal role in health education, early identification, advocacy, and care coordination. The UAE model demonstrates promising practices in aligning public health, education, and urban planning to protect children in the context of climate change. Strengthening these efforts is critical for advancing child health, supporting sustainable development, and building climate-resilient communities.

Keywords:

Heat resilience, children, climate change, community health nursing, UAE, outdoor play, health promotion

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