DAVIS SCHOOL DISTRICT

Classroom Temperature

Health Interventions Program

High temperatures put people at risk. People suffer heat-related illness when the body's temperature control system is overloaded. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs. The body normally cools itself by perspiring. Several factors affect the body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, perspiration will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from dissipating heat quickly.
Medical and physical conditions can affect an individual's heat tolerance, such as, diabetes, high blood pressure, anorexia nervosa, bulimia, obesity, dehydration, asthma, allergies, heart disease, poor circulation, drug and alcohol use, sunburn, and fever.

It will be the responsibility of the District to present this program to each school principal and train them on organizing a School Health Advisory Committee, utilizing interdisciplinary and interagency personnel resources.

The District will develop and implement a written program. The written program will be evaluated and updated annually, before May 1. The program will cover school days during the period of May 1 through September 15. Schools with air conditioning will be exempt.

The following are items that will be addressed in the program:

1. Annual assessment of each schools student population to determine those students with special health care conditions. Students with identified health care needs will have an individual health care plan developed by the school nurse with an individualized emergency plan.

2. Annual assessment of medications students in each school are taking. The school nurse will be used as a resource. Provide this information to the classroom teacher.

3. Provide and document annual training to the school staff on heat policy, District plan, interventions, and signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

4. Make sure that at least three school staff members have current CPR and first aid certification, and that first aid kits are replenished with current supplies including re-hydration fluids.

5. Ensuring that preventative maintenance is being performed on HVAC filters, sensors, motors, and controls.

6. Plans will take into consideration any school sports and physical activities.

7. Temperature readings will be taken and recorded at least once daily using one of the following methods.

 a. Chart the temperature reading taken from a simple wall or hand held dry bulb thermometer. Compare reading to the chart.

 b. Properly use a sling psychrometer to determine the relative humidity.
     Compare reading to the chart.

 TABLE 1
DRY BULB INDEX

Heat Health Thermometer
Hazard Level Temperature

Caution            80-89.9 F

Extreme           90-99.9
Caution

Danger            Greater than or equal to 100

TABLE 2
 TEMPERATURE-HUMIDITY INDEX

% Relative                      Dry Bulb Temperature (F)
Humidity           Caution       Extreme Caution               Danger

0                   95.0-112.9        113.0-131.9                  Greater than or equal to 132.0
10                 89.5-107.4        107.5-124.4                  Greater than or equal to 125.0
20                 87.5-103.4        103.5-118.4                  Greater than or equal to 119.0
30                 86.0-99.9          100.0-114.9                  Greater than or equal to 115.0
40                 84.0-97.4          97.5-111.9                    Greater than or equal to 112.0
50                 82.0-95.4          95.5-108.9                    Greater than or equal to 109.0
60                 81.5-93.4          93.5-106.9                    Greater than or equal to 107.0
70                 78.5-91.4          91.5-104.9                    Greater than or equal to 105.0
80                 77.5-89.9          90.0-103.4                    Greater than or equal to 103.5
90                 76.5-88.9          90.0-101.4                    Greater than or equal to 101.5
100               75.0-87.4          87.5-99.9                      Greater than or equal to 100.0

8. The local health department will be notified immediately when:

 a. The heat health hazard level of  "Danger" is reached anywhere inside the school where students or staff are present for an hour or longer.
 b. On the same day two incidents occur in the school where health symptoms, such as heat stroke, cramps, and heat exhaustion, that may have been caused by heat health hazard level of  "Caution", or "Danger" has been recorded in the school.
 

On the other end of the spectrum. A temperature of 68 to 74 degrees F during the winter months will be maintained. However, on a temporary basis, during a severe winter energy crisis, the temperature will be reduced to 65 degrees F.
 

80-85 All above and including:
 Decrease physical activity for all students (PE and recess) - no strenuous physical
 activity.

85-89 All above and including:
 Limit recess and PE to early AM hours only for all students.

 Extreme Caution (90-104 Degrees F):
Heat cramps and heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure and
physical activity.

Alert for Heat Exhaustion- move to cool place, initiate cooling, monitor, provide cool
liquids, remove excess clothing, seek medical attention if no improvement in 30 minutes.
DO NOT COOL WITH FREEZING COLD WATER OR ICE PACKS. Too rapid cooling
with extreme cold could cause convulsions. Notify school nurse for resource, and call the
parent or guardian.

Over 104 Degrees F
Heat cramps or heat exhaustion likely. Heat stroke possible with prolonged
exposure and physical activity.

Alert for Heat stroke - This is a medical emergency, activate EMS system, monitor and initiate cooling. Continual assessment by certified first responder until EMS personnel get on site. Notify the school nurse for resource and parent or guardian.

Reschedule game times until later in the day (example football)

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