AIBU to think school cricket in 37 degree heat is dangerous?

[Worriedmummy1244]

DS prep school have just sent a letter about a cricket match 2-3pm on Tuesday with another school (we’re in south east it’s currently predicted 37 degrees) this is first we’ve heard of it and the letter says it is going ahead.

Their sports day is going ahead tomorrow

Are they insane?!

I don’t want to be that mum but I don’t want my child playing

I’m afraid it does! In Australia, the schools close if it gets too hot

I live in Southetn Spain
Absolutely a sporting match for children would not go ahead in 37 degree heat.
Schools close by 1:30pm
Summer holidays start next week

For all those saying it’s fine and it’s just summer, the human body runs at around 37 degrees. As soon as the air temperature exceeds that, the body starts to struggle to keep itself cool, even without doing physical exercise. It’s not safe. Temperatures in the late 30s, in blazing sun, are very different from the late 20s or early 30s. I’m hoping our DofE and sports fixtures are going to be cancelled, or at least changed to a cooler time of day.

This is from an Australian junior cricket organisation website. Games are cancelled over 36deg and can be cancelled / modified over 34deg

@Worriedmummy1244 I agree with those who say they would have no qualms about being that mum.

It’s totally inappropriate and should be rescheduled or cancelled if that’s not possible.

Yes, cricket does not involve constant running about in the way that some other sports do; but there is activity and players would be outside in the hot sun all day. Against specific govt advice.

Just as a similar example, I officiate at athletics which I love; a few years ago I was at an event in similar temps (also forecast) and yes, it was unbearably hot. I was on the track all day. I did not run around, I walked. The athletes (many in younger age groups) were running though. We were literally throwing water over them in some races. It was utterly unpleasant and not appropriate. It should have been cancelled.

Yes people would have been disappointed but that’s not the priority; H&S is. We were in the hot sun from 10am to 4pm with no possibility of a break. I complained and was met with “we followed govt guidelines” [no you didn’t; people were active in the hot sun between 11am and 3pm] and “you should have taken a break” [it was not possible or scheduled].

I won’t attend an event again if those temps are forecast (so if I was officiating on Wednesday, say, I would be emailing to say I’m not coming). You need to protest OP for the sake of the players and also the officials!

And this is from the ECB, about looking to play / train outside of 11am to 3pm on hot clear sunny days

You’re not unreasonable at all. It’s too hot for cricket and for sports day.

Every school is doing its own thing and the differences are huge. I got three emails re weather and sports day from dc primary since Friday. They’ve postponed sports day first to end of this week, and now to next month - not great if you’re working even though one change of date would be understandable, twice is confusing and rushed. End of this week doesn’t look that bad…

We also got an email to say some after school clubs may be cancelled last minute, and people who wish to pick up their dc after lunch (1pm) can do so… I’m particularly annoyed by the early pick up part, as I’m sure the children staying till 3pm will feel it’s unfair and of course not all parents are available. Also means there will be zero learning, which also usually means worse behaviour… It sounds unnecessarily disruptive. Surely the blinds down and a fan makes the classroom as comfortable as being at home. I wish they tried to keep to routine as much as possible.

Also, American schools broke up a month ago - there is no school sport during the hottest parts of the year.

And how many hot countries have you lived in with school age children to see first hand how they do it over there?

Just to add to the life doesn't stop in hot countries crowd. I attended a wedding in Madrid in July. The church ceremony was at 8pm. We sat down to dinner at 11pm. So it doesn't stop but adjustments are made!

Lots of children need to walk home and that won't be very safe at 3pm.

I was talking to a colleague based in India who explained it's absolutely standard that schools are shut when it's above 40 degrees. It all moves to google classrooms. Because they are used to the heat so they know how dangerous it is to have kids walking to and from school in it.

Countries like Australia or parts of the Middle East have aircon as standard. Most British schools are not air conditioned.

My son had played cricket all through teens and spent many a Saturday ( all afternoon and into evening) stood on cricket field in all heats inc 36c. Lots of water breaks. Never had a problem

You've not heard of the siesta then?

I wouldn't let my child do PE in these conditions, it's ludicrous. No, it's not character-building, it's just stupid. You'd postpone if it was hammering down with rain so postpone for hot weather too.

Come off it. If it's 37 in the shade, and so more in direct sunlight, wearing white clothes and a hat is not going to do nearly enough to make it sensible for unacclimatised kids to be stood out in it even if they're totally stationary.

I stopped being an athletics official because of the ludicrously long days. Even without the heat or heavy rain, it was too much.

Ah I’m sorry to hear that. The sport should support volunteers in any way needed.

At temperatures over 37 degrees, it wouldn’t be safe. The ECB and Cricket Australia recognise that cricket in high temperatures is not advisable. Batters and wicket keepers are padded up and wear helmets, bowlers (especially pace bowlers) would struggle, and fielders can be running around a fair bit.

In addition to that, girls don’t tend to wear whites, unlike boys. They are normally in dark colours. Their dark polyester trousers are most definitely not designed to keep them cool.

I used to teach in SE Asia.

The key stage 1 playground and pool had a large fabric cover so were always mostly shaded.

The school day started and finished earlier.

Classrooms and the staffroom had aircon.

The corridors and the hall had open sides to catch breezes.

The uniform was different and included hats as compulsory.

Having spent some time in South Africa, there is lots of shade available on sport fields, plenty of water, if it's extremely hot they DO postpone things. The events take place in the morning not the afternoon when it's hotting up

Ridiculous to even think of playing sport in this

A few years ago my son played in a football tournament when the temperature was a bit lower than this. We hoped it would be cancelled, but it wasn't. I didn't want him to play but he didn't want to let the team down. The games were fairly short but there were several of them. There was a gazebo to shelter under when not playing, but it wasn't enough. It shouldn't have gone ahead and some children felt unwell. I instructed my son not too fast or too much, which defeats the point of the tournament and I don't think he listened anyway.

Where are you in the SE where 37/38 is predicted? I'm in the SE and it's mainly 27 and under, 31 on Friday

I’m In Kent
37 and 38 on Wednesday and Thursday

I guess you are by the coast then. I am Surrey/W. Sussex border and Met Office (who are generally very accurate for this location) are predicting highs of 35 tomorrow, and 39 on Wednesday and Friday. Humidity will be 90% on the hottest days.

We’re in London and our prep sports day was still on as of this morning for Weds but they’ve thankfully cancelled. If they hadn’t, I would have had no issue with not sending DC in for it.

People suggesting that this type of temp in June anywhere in the UK is normal and manageable given our infrastructure are bonkers.

These aren’t just sunny days. There is a genuine risk to life if people continue with their usual routine in the hottest areas, especially those with underlying health conditions, kids and the elderly.

Seeing anyone, let alone a child, with heatstroke is horrible and I speak as an ED nurse.