Youth Safety Alliance

Heat safety for campers and young workers

Only 7 states have a heat rule at work. Kids deserve all 50.

Every summer, millions of kids head to camp and teens start their first jobs as lifeguards, landscapers, farm hands and camp counselors. In most states, nobody is required to have a plan for when the heat turns dangerous. We're changing that.

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43states with no workplace heat illness rule at all
0federal heat rules in effect. OSHA's proposed rule is still pending.
1stdays on the job are the most dangerous. New, unacclimatized workers are at highest risk.Source: OSHA

The gap

Where young workers are protected from heat

7 of 50

Only California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon and Washington require employers to protect workers from heat. Everywhere else, a teenager's first summer job may come with no plan for water, shade, rest or a heat emergency.

Heat rule in place
Rule being written
No heat rule

Coverage varies by state. Some rules cover only outdoor work, indoor work or certain industries. Summer camps follow separate state camp rules, and those vary widely too.

Who we protect

Athletes aren't the only kids out in the heat

The same heat that threatens a football player at August practice threatens a 9-year-old on a camp hike and a 16-year-old mowing lawns. They all deserve a grown-up with a plan.

Summer campers

Day camps, sleepaway camps, sports camps and church camps. Young kids can't always tell you they're overheating.

Counselors & lifeguards

Often 15 to 19 years old, on their feet in full sun all day, and responsible for other people's kids.

Teen outdoor workers

Landscaping, farm work, construction cleanup, car washes and sports field crews. Many are brand new to working in heat.

Hot indoor jobs

Kitchens, food trucks, warehouses and concession stands, where heat builds up indoors with little airflow.

A first summer job means a body that isn't used to the heat yet. OSHA reports that many heat deaths among outdoor workers happen in their first few days on the job, before the body has adjusted. For most teens, every summer job is a new job.Source: OSHA heat illness prevention guidance

The plan

What every camp and youth employer should have

A heat emergency action plan doesn't have to be complicated. It just has to exist, be written down, and be practiced before the first hot day.

  1. Water, shade and rest

    Cool water within reach, shaded break areas, and scheduled rest that increases as the heat rises.

  2. Ease new kids in

    Build up time and workload over the first one to two weeks so bodies can adjust to the heat.

  3. Watch the heat index

    Check heat conditions daily and change the schedule, move activities indoors or stop when it's too hot.

  4. Train every adult and teen

    Everyone in charge learns the warning signs of heat illness and what to do in the first minutes.

  5. Cool on site, fast

    Have a tub or tarp, cold water and ice ready. For heat stroke, start cooling immediately while help is on the way.

  6. Know who calls 911

    Name who makes the call, the exact address to give, and who meets the ambulance at the gate.

Build your emergency action plan at WorkEAP.com

Answer a few questions about your camp or workplace and get a written heat emergency action plan you can print, post and train your staff on.

Build my plan

Know the signs

Heat exhaustion can become heat stroke quickly

Heat exhaustion

  • Heavy sweating, cool clammy skin
  • Dizziness, headache, nausea
  • Weakness, muscle cramps
  • Fast pulse, feeling faint

Move to shade, loosen clothing, cool them with water and give sips of cool water. Get help if it doesn't improve quickly.

Heat stroke is an emergency

  • Confusion, slurred speech or acting strange
  • Stumbling, collapse or seizure
  • Very high body temperature
  • Skin may be hot, and may or may not be sweating

Cool first, call 911. Start cooling immediately, fully submerged in cold water up to the neck, and keep cooling until help arrives.

Cool first. Every minute counts.

Take action

Three ways to help close the gap

Parents

Ask before you sign up

  • Do you have a written heat emergency plan?
  • Who on staff is trained in heat illness?
  • Is there a cooling tub or ice on site?
  • When do you cancel or move activities for heat?
Camps & employers

Put a plan in place

  • Build your written plan at WorkEAP.com
  • Train counselors and supervisors before summer
  • Run a practice drill in the first week
  • Post the plan where every staff member can see it
Everyone

Ask your state to act

  • Send the letter below to your state lawmakers
  • Ask for heat emergency plans at youth camps and workplaces
  • Share this page with your school and community
  • Join the alliance for updates

Write your lawmakers

Copy this letter, add your name and town, and send it to your state representative and senator. It takes two minutes.

Not sure who represents you? Search "find my state legislator" plus your state name.

Dear Representative/Senator, I'm writing as a constituent to ask you to support a law requiring heat emergency action plans at youth summer camps and at workplaces that employ young people. Only seven states currently require employers to protect workers from heat, and there is no federal heat rule in effect. Every summer, kids attend camps and teenagers start their first jobs as camp counselors, lifeguards, landscapers and farm workers, often in extreme heat and often with no plan in place if someone collapses. Young workers are especially at risk because many are new to working in the heat, and the first days on the job are the most dangerous. A simple written plan would make a real difference: water, shade and rest; easing new workers and campers into the heat; trained staff who know the warning signs; a way to cool someone on site right away; and a clear plan for calling 911. Heat stroke is preventable and survivable when people know what to do. Please help make sure every camp and youth employer in our state has a plan. Thank you, [Your name] [Your town]

Join the Youth Safety Alliance

Parents, camp directors, employers, coaches and lawmakers working together so every young person has a plan for the heat. Sign up for updates, free resources and ways to help in your state.

Sources: state heat rules as tracked by Safety Services, OSHA heat standard 2026 and Environmental Defense Fund, September 2026. New-worker risk from OSHA heat exposure guidance. This page is general education, not medical or legal advice. In an emergency: cool first, call 911.