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Managing excessive heat in schools

Unless the Principal or Regional Director determines that the school must temporarily close due to a disaster or emergency situation, Queensland state schools remain open and students are not sent home during periods of excessive heat or heat wave conditions.

Heatwave conditions are specifically when excessively high temperatures combine with high humidity levels and are sustained over a number of days. That means, although the predicted maximum temperature for a region may be in the mid-to-high 30s, unless this coincides with high humidity and lasts for a few days, it is considered 'hot' rather than a 'heat wave'.

People are most at risk during extreme heat conditions when the temperatures reach about 5 degrees Celsius above the average for sustained periods of time. In South East Queensland, the Bureau of Meteorology will issue advice to the Department of Health when apparent temperatures are forecast to exceed 35 in Brisbane and 37 in Amberley, for at least two consecutive days.

Heat-related conditions cover a wide range of symptoms ranging from swelling of hands and feet, prickly heat occurring in acclimatised people and heat cramps, through to heat exhaustion, to the more severe and potentially fatal heatstroke. See Department of Health Heat event information.

Animals in the care of a school can also be affected by heat-related illness. Animals should be monitored and sufficient food, water and shelter provided to safeguard their welfare.

Strategies

Managing schools during excessive heat or heat wave conditions:

modify or suspend normal school activities during excessive heat
postpone any outdoor or sporting activities where appropriate
increase access to the coolest areas of the school grounds or facilities for lessons or other activities
ensure students with special needs are appropriately supervised, including the monitoring of their hydration
ensure school lunch boxes are stored in cool areas facilitate and encourage students to drink plenty of water and to stay out of the sun. Department of Health recommends that during hot weather, water (room temperature or slightly cool rather than very cold) is the best fluid to drink. Drinks containing caffeine as well as drinks containing excessive sugar should be limited or avoided altogether
undertake normal first aid procedures in the event of a student or staff member becoming heat stressed
prepare a communication strategy for the school community informed by the Assistant Regional Director that the school falls within the Extreme Heat Warning Zone (a heat wave is imminent).

For further information, refer to the Managing excessive heat in schools 408K guidelines.

Playing and exercising safely in hot weather

Factors to consider when cancelling or postponing a sporting event include but are not limited to:

the temperature - both ambient and relative humidity
the duration and intensity of the event (for example, an endurance or distance event has more potential for problems than a stop-start team event)
hydration and interchange opportunities
time of day
local environment
acclimatisation of the participants
fitness levels of participants
age and gender of participants.

If the ambient temperature is between 31 and 35 degrees Celsius and the relative humidity is over 30 per cent, planned vigorous, sustained activity may be limited in intensity or duration to less than 60 minutes per session.

If the ambient temperature is over 36 degrees Celsius and the relative humidity is over 25 per cent, planned vigorous, sustained activity may be postponed to a cooler part of the day or even cancelled.

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This page was last reviewed on 12 Jan 2017 at 09:59AM