Heat Wave Guidance Whilst relatively rare, heat waves can have an impact on children’s health and the way they learn. This guidance sets out some of the things which schools should consider when planning for a heat wave during the summer term. A Heat Health Watch operates in England and Wales from 1 June to 15 September each year, monitored by the Met Office, Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly. The Heat Health Watch comprises four levels of response based on maximum daytime and minimum night-time temperatures: Region North East North West Yorkshire and Humber East Midlands West Midlands East of England South East London South West Wales Threshold Temperatures Day (max degrees C) 28 30 29 30 30 30 31 32 30 30 Night (min degrees C) 15 15 15 15 15 15 16 18 15 15 These temperatures could have a significant effect on health if reached on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night. Level 1: Green – summer preparedness and long-term planning This is the minimum state of vigilance during the summer. During this time social and healthcare services will ensure that all awareness and background preparedness work is ongoing. Advice: If you want more information about hot weather and your health, please visit www.nhs.uk. If you are concerned about your health or somebody you care for, please contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, www.nhsdirect.uk or your local pharmacist. Level 2: Yellow – alert and readiness Triggered as soon as the risk is 60% or above for threshold temperatures being reached in one or more regions on at least two consecutive days and the intervening night. This is an important stage for social and healthcare services who will be working to ensure readiness and swift action to reduce harm from a potential heat wave. Advice: Heat waves can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very old or those with chronic diseases. If you want more information about hot weather and your health, please visit www.nhs.uk. If you are concerned about your health or somebody you care for, please contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, www.nhsdirect.uk or your local pharmacist. Level 3: Amber – heat wave action Triggered when the Met Office confirms threshold temperatures for one or more regions have been reached for one day and the following night, and the forecast for the next day is greater than 90% confidence that the day threshold will be met. This stage requires social and healthcare services to target specific actions at high-risk groups. Advice: Heat waves can be dangerous, especially for the very young, very old or those with chronic diseases. If you want more information about hot weather and your health, please visit www.nhs.uk. If you are concerned about your health or somebody you care for, please contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, www.nhsdirect.uk or your local pharmacist. Level 4: Red – emergency Reached when a heat wave is so severe and/or prolonged that its effects extend outside the health and social care system. At this level, illness or death may occur among the fit and healthy and not just in high-risk groups. Advice: Stay out of the sun. Keep your home as cool as possible – shutting windows during the day may help. Open them when it is cooler at night. Keep drinking fluids. If there is anyone you know who might be at special risk, for example an older person living on their own, make sure they know what to do. If you want more information about hot weather and your health, please visit www.nhs.uk. If you are concerned about your health or somebody you care for, please contact NHS Direct on 0845 4647, www.nhsdirect.uk or your local pharmacist. (From the Me Office Heat Health Watch page http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/heathealth/) Preparation In terms of preparation and planning, schools may wish to consider the following: Hydration: Children should be encouraged to bring chilled water into school in a named bottle and should be able to re-fill them at appropriate points during the day Children should be encouraged to drink fluids after break and lunch and should be able to take their water bottles out to PE lessons Children without water bottles should be given additional opportunities to drink Attention should be given to Muslim pupils if Ramadan and a heat wave coincide Schools should discourage children from bringing in ice drinks due to the length of time it takes for ice to melt Uniform: Thought should be given to the appropriateness of school uniform in a heat wave and the possibility of introducing a summer uniform or giving permission to wear PE uniform. NHS guidelines suggest light, loosefitting cotton clothes Agreement should be reached about the removal of jumpers or blazers in hot weather The use of hats is also recommended by the NHS and where appropriate, children should be encouraged to wear them outside The suitability and safety of foot wear, such as flip flops and mules, should be discussed Children should be encouraged to apply sun cream before school, particularly if they have PE. Thought should be given to children with skin conditions and allergies and to the potential child protection issues, particularly at infant schools, of adults applying sun cream to children Health issues: Consideration should be given to children with health conditions, particularly: -Children who have had chemotherapy -Children with asthma and diabetes -Children with heart conditions -Children with skin conditions Children who are carers should also be considered and schools should ensure that they are aware of potential health risks to the people for whom they care Children should be discouraged from sitting in full sunlight, particularly during the lunch break Schools should consider the possibility of providing shade, eg gazebos, during break times PE/physical activity: Where possible, PE should be rescheduled to earlier in the day during heat wave conditions Pupils should be allowed to take their water bottles to PE lessons and consideration should be given to the provision of water during PE lessons for those children without water bottles Opportunities must be made for children to drink and re-fill their bottles after PE lessons During heat wave conditions, schools should consider the desirability of children playing football or other active games, especially during the lunch break. Appropriate alternatives should be suggested where the decision to disallow football is made Thought should be given to the temperature on the playground, particularly at lunch time and during PE lessons. Where possible, children should be encouraged to play on the school field rather than the playground Curriculum: Opportunities should be provided within the curriculum for children to learn about health issues associated with heat waves and how to keep themselves and vulnerable friends and relatives safe in hot weather. This can also include reminders about the dangers of playing in rivers or ponds Exams: Thought needs to be given to pupils who are sitting exams during heat wave conditions. This could include: -Ensuring curtains and blinds are kept closed and that lights work correctly -Ensuring adequate ventilation -Ensuring that jugs of water are available -Being aware of the health needs of particular pupils School trips: Thought should be given to issues raised by school trips during heat waves, particularly for trips where children will be active, in the sun all day or going to London, where temperatures are higher. Teachers leading day trips must consider: -Temperatures on buses and coaches, particularly in the afternoon - Provision of water during the day -Health needs of particular children (parents of vulnerable children should be encouraged to attend trips where possible) -First aid kits should include cool packs -Mobile phones should be fully charged -Thought needs to be given to the type of activities occurring between 11am-3pm and how much time will be spent out-of-doors -Where possible, a First Aider should attend the trip Teachers leading residential trips should consider the above issues and in addition should also: -Ensure they understand the particular needs of children with specific health issues -Ensure all children who require them have sufficient medication for the trip -Give thought to the ventilation and bedding in the accommodation and any security issues if children leave windows open -Ensure that children are sufficiently hydrated and apply sun cream regularly Sports Days: Thought needs to be given to how to run sports days in heat wave conditions. Arrangements could include: -Having the event in the morning -Ensuring water is provided after each event -Providing shade for pupils who are waiting to compete -Ensuring children have sun hats and have applied sun cream -Providing refreshments for parents -Ensuring that first aiders are working and available Communication with parents: Schools should remind parents of their policies with regard to heat waves during the summer term and send out reminders, where possible, when the probability of a heat wave is announced Classroom temperatures: There is no maximum limit for working in hot conditions but the DCSF provided guidelines in 2009 that ‘heat stress and dehydration can be serious problems at temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius, so that should be regarded as the maximum reasonable temperature for prolonged periods of time in school classrooms. However more sensitive children may experience problems at much lower temperatures’ Schools should consider ways of lowering temperatures in the classroom, through opening windows and doors and providing blinds and fans Attention should be paid to health and safety issues if fans are provided Consideration should be given to security issues if classroom doors are left open Thermometers can be provided to monitor classroom temperatures Thought should be given to outdoor working (in the shade) or rotating classes to work in cooler areas of the school Consideration should be given to putting up external shades and using reflective paint, particularly around south-facing windows (NHS) Consider the use of indoor plants and bowls of water to aid evaporation in classrooms (NHS) Some schools in other regions have closed early at the end of the summer term in previous heat waves. The guidance is to remain open where at all possible and to seek Local Authority guidance and support if temperatures become a significant issue. Changing opening hours, to open and close earlier, may be one solution Long term planning: Concrete and bricks raise local temperatures but trees, bushes and ponds help to reduce them. Thought should be given to improving the outdoor design of your school to lower the temperature within your grounds Schools where classrooms or other areas of the school regularly becoming very hot should discuss the issue with the Local Authority for guidance on ways to reduce the temperature Example of guidance provided to parents from Gatton School: http://www.gattons.wsussex.sch.uk/Information/hot_weather_guidelines_for_paren.htm Heat Wave Plan for the UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/heatwave-plan-for-england-2013