Which group is most susceptible to heat-related illnesses?

Young individuals are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses for several reasons. Firstly, children have a higher surface area-to-volume ratio compared to adults, which can lead to a greater loss of fluids through sweating. Additionally, their bodies are still developing, and they may not have fully developed mechanisms for thermoregulation, making it more challenging to maintain normal body temperature during hot conditions.

Young athletes may not recognize their own signs of dehydration or heat stress as quickly as older or more experienced athletes, which can delay their response to heat-related risks. Moreover, they tend to be more active and may engage in prolonged exercise in the heat without adequate rest or hydration breaks.

While experienced athletes and individuals in excellent physical condition are generally more aware of their bodies' needs and might have better acclimatization to heat, they are not as inherently vulnerable as young individuals when it comes to non-physiological factors like awareness and developmental readiness. Those with high metabolic rates can also be at risk, but their susceptibility is often influenced by additional factors such as overall conditioning and acclimatization.