Temperatures in England could reach an unprecedented 40°C next week, and schools are taking steps to ensure pupils and staff are protected.
Some schools in the UK are: is already considering closing Monday and Tuesday after the Met Office first issued a red weather warning for extreme heat.
Others that remain open are introducing measures such as adjusted timetables, closing early, wearing gym clothes for students or shifting sports days.
Great Dunham Primary in Norfolk advised that all pupils should ‘wear gym clothes rather than uniforms on Mondays and Tuesdays’.
They added that students should bring a sun hat, sunscreen and water and that they should not play outside during lunch.
Another school implementing the PE kit rule is Co-op Academy Swinton in Greater Manchester, which said the change on Monday and Tuesday was a “temporary adjustment to uniform requirements.”
Arnold Hill Spencer Academy in Nottingham also said pupils have the option to wear their gym clothes, while pupils who prefer to wear a uniform on Monday or Tuesday will not have to wear a blazer or tie.
On Thursday, the government issued heatwave guidelines for teachers, indicating that children sweat less than adults and also cannot regulate their body temperature.
The guideline recommends that teachers encourage children to wear loose clothing and wide-brimmed hats.
Teachers should open windows to provide ventilation before students arrive in the morning and minimize the use of lighting and electrical equipment.
Mechanical fans can be used in temperatures below 35°C, but anything above that makes dehydration worse.
The government warned that students with heat stress “may appear strange and show signs of discomfort and irritability,” while signs of heat exhaustion may include fatigue, nausea and confusion.
St John’s CE Middle School Academy in Bromsgrove has said that pupils can come to school ‘non-uniformed so that children can wear loose, light-colored clothes that keep them as cool as possible’.
The school said it would sell popsicles to students for cancer research, and students would be encouraged not to run during playtime to avoid heat exhaustion.
Students at Houlton School in Warwickshire have also been told they can wear school gym clothes in lieu of their uniforms from Monday to Wednesday.
In a letter to parents, the school’s principal added that “during the extreme weather, students should never be outside if they don’t want to.”
Heat wave: how do you deal with hot weather?
According to the NHS, most of us welcome warm weather, but if it is too hot for too long there are health risks. In England there are an average of 2000 heat-related deaths each year. If the weather is hot this summer, make sure it doesn’t harm you or anyone else you know.
Why is a heat wave a problem?
The main risks of a heat wave are:
Who is most at risk?
A heat wave can affect anyone, but the most vulnerable people are:
- older people – especially those over 75
- people who live alone or in a care home
- people with severe or long-term illness, including heart or lung disease, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease or some mental illnesses
- those who may find it difficult to keep a cool head – infants and very young children, those who are bedridden, those with drug or alcohol addiction or with Alzheimer’s disease
- people who spend a lot of time outside or in warm places – people who live in a top-floor flat, homeless people, or people with outdoor jobs
Tips for dealing with hot weather
- beware of those who struggle to keep themselves cool and hydrated – older people, those with underlying health conditions and those living alone are at particular risk
- stay cool indoors – many of us will have to stay home safely this summer so know how to keep your home cool
- close curtains for rooms facing the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember that it can be cooler outside than inside
- when going outside, use cool areas carefully, keep your distance in accordance with social distancing guidelines
- follow the social distancing guidelines of the coronavirus and wash your hands regularly
- drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol
- never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children or animals
- try to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm
- walk in the shade, apply sunscreen regularly and wear a wide-brimmed hat if you must go outside in the heat
- avoid exercising in the hottest parts of the day
- make sure you take water with you when you travel
- if you go into open water to cool off, be careful and follow local safety advice
- Remember that although there are restrictions on the coronavirus, you must follow government guidelines to use public spaces safely
For more information visit GOV.UK: Heat wave plan for England.
If you are concerned about an uncomfortably warm home affecting your health or that of someone else, seek medical advice.
You can also get help from your municipality’s environmental department. They can inspect a home for health hazards, including excess heat.
The Hereford Academy in the West Midlands has high school students starting early next week and finishing at 2 p.m. so they can “be away the hottest part of the day.”
The academy said it would also bring its sports day forward to avoid the high temperatures next week.
The Clapton Girls’ Academy in East London will also send pupils home at 12.30pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Principal Anna Feltham wrote to parents to say, “Many classrooms are already very hot, even with fans, and students struggle to keep cool, drink enough water and maintain concentration during classes.”
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