To keep the kids off school due to the heat? I'm in Oz.

[user1477282676]

I'm British, this is all new to me. Other parents don't seem to keep theirs off....well not in our school! Some schools close when it gets over 38 but it was 41(105!) today and I swear to God I almost passed out walking home.

I don't drive...can't drive...so we walk to and from school. it's fine in the morning but 3.00pm is the hottest part of the day and it's a mile long walk on unshaded streets.

I felt a fool today. There was no traffic at all...nobody on foot...everyone drives in air condtiioned cars and there was no sign of anyone.

I've nobody to ask for a lift...my DH is working away till Friday or he would have finished work early.

I know I can't do that walk again. I couldn't breath and towards the end, a woman came out of her house and asked me if I had far to go and was I ok...SO kind of her.

DD was hot but not that bothered by it...she's tougher than me obviously! I did drink a lot and we had hats.

We have bikes. I had a flat today but to be honest, I wouldn't have made it up the hill on the way home in that heat. It kills me on a normal day.

No buses here. No taxis either. There's one Uber driver and he's hit and miss...always booked.

Murphy yes...wouldn't white be better?

There are school buses but not for me...we only live a mile away.

wouldn't white be better

I am genuinely curious about why you specified black Iam. I know black absorbs heat, but perhaps it creates more shade than the heat it absorbs ?

White, no. Think the suns rays will get through much easier being light.

I really never thought I would post this much about an umbrella

Shrug I use black because the shade is darker. I hold it quite high so no extra heat that I have noticed. Is an enormous golf Bobby.

Works for me, I have a hilly 1km each way walk.

I also don't drink ice cold water but absolute buckets of room temp water, can get more down that way.

The heat isn't going anywhere.

Don't get a black umbrella. Get one with silver reflective lining. From here.

Frozen water bottles.

Get a neck wrap.

Any school which reaches high temperatures will already be airconditioned. We hit 34 today, 38 predicted for tomorrow. I go in early and fire up the airconditioner early so the room is cool by the time the kids come in. Close the blinds and keep the room fairly dark. Kids stay inside at lunchtime so they aren't out in the heat. It's just the reality of living in Australia. We all grew up in schools without airconditioning, and we all survived it.

According to this article

physics.stackexchange.com/questions/74905/which-color-of-an-umbrella-is-more-effective-against-sunlight

It doesn't really matter. It says many people think black is best but apparently they reckon a reflective material inside and any colour outside would work best.

Midnite thanks so much! I am ordering those...we will still have more days like this to come and those umbrellas look great.

The GOOD news is that I thought of someone to ask about a lift home and he's happy to help...so I won't need to collect DD she will be brought home in air conditioning!

((((((((Hugs))))))))))) from another Aussie.

a White umbrella would deflect the heat better. But in this kinda heat, it wont do shite.

43%Cel here today where I am

Well there you go. But an umbrella is a lifesaver.

You dont have to get black.

The umbrellas are very good. I have the ones with the clouds underneath (I have one of the big ones for when I'm on lunch duty, and one of the folding ones to keep in my handbag). They definitely do make a difference to the temperature when you're underneath them.

Sounds absolutely awful. I'd be on the next plane back home. I think you will acclimatise though. Fill a spray bottle and keep misting your face?

This weekend is going to suck. 44 where we are and with all the rain it is going to be humid. I much prefer the blast furnace to the steam oven. Worse for fires though.

Southerly is due on Sunday night so hopefully a bit of relief.

Head it's only awful when it's like this which isn't that often.

I grew up in a desert and in the summer, 41C was a cool day.
Do you wear a hat or scarf on your head? sunglasses? are your arms and shoulders covered appropriately? Do you drink water? lots and lots of it?
Or do you waltz around in a tiny top and shorts, hatless and only ever drink a bottle of squash once when you get home? and perhaps a cup of tea later?
As long as the classrooms are kept cooler than 41C, there is nothing about that temperature that warrants a day off school.

We've been in Oz for nearly 12 years now and this has been the longest, hottest summer by far.

Umbrellas are good as they shade you better than a hat and the air can still circulate over your head! Mine has a pattern on the outside and black UV fabric on the inside.

We use spray bottles filled with water to keep cool and lots of cold water to drink.

There were a few days last year when I kept my kids off school, but they do have a metabolic condition and don't tolerate the heat well so the school was happy with my decision. This year the school has newly installed aircon (hooray!) and it's better for my kids to be at school rather than at home.

Is there anywhere you can stop on the way there or back that has aircon, like a shop? Or can you get to the school early and take some time to cool down in reception before heading home?

If the school has aircon then I don't think that missing a day is seen to be reasonable. Fortunately this summer won't last forever and it should be getting more bearable soon.

Nothing to add except that i know how hot it is and can empathise in the no options front. Here in tinytown the options are car or heatstroke.

I am not keeping my pair off, there is aircon in the classrooms...however littlun was sent home with a headache which I'm attributing to the heat :(

But if the place is so quiet there is no transport, is learning to drive an option? I don't drive in the big smoke but fine here in tinytown

School Facebook is a good idea. Surely someone would like to help

In this situation I would take your kids if I could. The heat won't vanish though so look my at learning to drive would be a wise option. If you have no taxis and no buses you will end up very isolated otherwise.

Water your hat,
Put a cool cloth around your neck
Don't try and walk to fast to get home quicker. Take it slowly
Umbrella sounds good
Water bottles
Icy poles
What part of Oz you in?

It has been particularly hot this year. DH is more acclimatised than I am as he works outside whereas I work in a nice cold air conditioned office! Umbrella might be the way forward, one day off wouldn't raise eyebrows here but you can't do it all the time.

Stitch I'm not bloody stupid. I said I wore appropriate clothing! I certanly don't "waltz" anywhere.

Thank you for further suggestions but I posted above that I have a lift for DD now.

Nice of you to be so aggressive.
I speak from what I have seen. People who live in cold countries do waltz around hot countries in completely inappropriate clothing. and then, when they get into trouble, act all confused.
People who live in hot countries and come to cold countries behave in a similar way. They refuse to wear coats, and dont understand why their 3 jumpers are not good enough at protecting them from the drizzle and cold.