Keeping Students Safe: Sun Smart

With this hot and humid weather, it is imperative we ensure student safety. Many students have just returned to Japan from cooler climates and are adjusting to the heat and humidity. A notice has been sent to parents to ask them to provide hats, sunscreen, loose clothing and refillable water bottles.

Over the next few weeks, please also take the following steps to avoid heat exhaustion and dehydration:

• Water should be available to students at all time.  Require all students to drink before and after outdoor play/PE and to constantly refill water bottles.
• Hats (and sunglasses if available) should be worn for outdoor recess and PE
• Monitor students and ask them to stay in the shade when they seem affected by the heat
• Consider offering a choice of indoor play for students struggling with the heat (may need to collaborate with others for supervision).

Please be aware of the following signs of heat exhaustion and send students experiencing any of these to the school nurse: 

·       weakness/feeling faint

·       muscle cramps

·       nausea and/or vomiting 

·       irritability

·       headache

·       increase sweating

·       cool, clammy skin

·       suspect elevation of body temperature