heatwave... do schools ever send pupils home?

[SlartyBartFast]

ds seems to think at 35 degrees, not likely i think to reach that

Some children (and adults) are, imo a lot more sensitive to the heat.

dd had sports' day yesterday - out on the field from 0930 until 1pm. To be fair the ht was sensible and they had plenty of shade (gazebo and trees) and all dcs afaik had suncream and hats on, plus water bottles within reach which could be easily refilled.

However dh and I are both prone to heat/sunstroke and dd was sent home at 1030 this morning. Imo this was due to heatstroke or similar. She was terribly pale and clammy with distressing nausea (didn't actually vomit). Dh and I have both had episodes like this.

I have kept her resting at home (she is normally v active) with loads of water/fluids. even dd2 (who isn't 2 yet) saw her sister lying in bed last night looking very pale and still and very aptly said "uh oh"

However not all dcs react like she does so I don't think sending them all home is a good idea.

I think keeping a child at home just because it's hot is a poor message to give to the child.

FAbBakerGirl I share your concern re not drinking enough during the day.

dd does have access to water all day but I think like a lot of dcs she doesn't really drink much of this as it gets a bit lukewarm.

I give a large drink first thing at home, plus plenty of milk on cereal. At lunchtime I send in quite a large drink. when I collect her (if I am not working) I take a big chilled drink with me, and then give another 1-2 drinks at teatime/early evening.

I was in High School in California, and once it got to 100 degrees, we went home. Actually strictly speaking, once the thermometer just outside the principal's office hit 100 degrees the school alarm would go off and we'd go to the beach!

It doesn't help when schools make children keep their water bottles outside the classroom!
Also, many adults still see drinking as a weakness & don't encourage it in class

my classroom is a portacabin - like a fridge in Feb and an oven now. Add 30 teenagers 'sweating cobs' and it is pretty grim. Not sure much teaching & learning is taking place. Also the kids don't really have a summer uniform unlike in Australia (well according to Home & Away!) so they really are struggling. Don't think they should send them home but our school needs a more practical uniform. Am aslo struggling clothes wise myself. Can't anything too revealing yet need to be cool & smart. Help!

A year 5 boy came out of my los school today clearly unwell but no staff member had noticed.
He stood by the wall with his bike and looked dreadful
I asked him if he was okay - was his mum coming to meet him and he burst into tears

Clearly my mentioning his mummy was too much for him poor soul

Seriously though he was obviously very unwell due to being dehydrated and no one had noticed I sent him back in and he was looked after, bit late though

When i lived in Lausanne in Switzerland in my youth, they would send you home if the temperature was 40c, but this was in the 1970's and i don't think they had air conditioning then.

At least mine can take their tie off.

I agree bloss and seeker
I lived in hot countries and i dont call this week's weather 'humid' or 'heatwave'.

ach, tuffen up

i knew there was mention of school's closing - so 2006 would have been right. at the time i was thinking pah it will be jsut as hot at home but you can get out the paddling pool/go to the beach/ swimming, have ice lollies etc etc.,
and didnt people die in paris during their heatwave, probably 2006 as well.

Janeite if it is any consolation my skylight and automatic windows are quite annoying. They open and short according to temperature and I think if it rains, that can mean that when the conditions are borderline they open and shut, open and shut, open and shut.....

You can guarantee as well that if I have just got a bottom set year 9 class settled and into an activity they will start to open and shut again,

ooh look what i've found

i like this sentence ... "Animals were given regular hosings down and sprayed with dirt, which acts as a barrier to the sun," ... DS2 will be fine then - he is always grubbing around covered in a layer iof grime

(wonders whether to reapply suncream on top of it or not)

I'm glad i managed to find some specialist heat-rejection film to apply to the outside of our conservatory. Even in the full glare of the sun. i'm cool as a cucumber but the glass is boiling!
Just have to make sure cold water is NOT splashed onto the glass when it's this hot.
Don't want it cracking because of thermal shock.

Chocolate shoes - see the thread in style and beauty.

I guess there is no upper temp because prior to global warming it wasn't thought nec

gave HT permission to turn garden hose on dcs today if hot tomorrow

aGREE RE KIDS AND WATER BOTTTLES

all lunchtime they piss about then it" oh i need some water"

i took mine home for lunch today