For Immediate Release
UFT reaches out to DOE on heat guidelines
Jun 10, 2008 11:17 AM
The extreme heat during the school day on June 9 prompted the union to reach out to the Department of Education regarding its protocols.
Statement by UFT President Randi Weingarten:
As recent weather forecasts have predicted, the temperature today
has been unseasonably high, just below 100 degrees at its mid-day peak.
This morning, we reached out to the Department of Education because it
has not issued protocols to guide school leaders about how to deal with
the heat. Weather this extreme can exacerbate health problems of
students and staff, such as asthma, and under certain conditions, lead
to heat exhaustion. We strongly encourage the DOE to come up with and
communicate a course of action for tomorrow, when the temperature is
expected to continue to hover in the mid-90s. Consideration needs to be
given to closing some schools, and/or early dismissals.
In the absence of protocol, we urge school administrators and educators in buildings without air conditioning to:
- keep lights off in the classrooms
- keep shades down
- move classes to lower floors and large spaces such as the cafeteria and auditorium
- move students out of the building to shaded spaces
- restrict strenuous activity
- drink plenty of water and make certain students drink plenty of water
- revise work schedules by increasing breaks and reducing activity
If
the temperature remains as high as expected, upper floors of school
buildings can reach over 100 degrees. We are especially concerned about
schools where there is scaffolding or netting related to construction,
because the occupants may have been told to keep their windows shut or
have plastic on their windows for dust control. We recommend staying
out of rooms with sealed windows.
