Weather Guidelines for Outdoor Play

  • **When a child is healthy enough to attend school, he/she is healthy enough to participate in playground and/or physical education activities in and out of doors. A child may be exempted from physical education and /or outdoor play due to injury or illness with a physician’s note for a specified period of time.**
     
    The following guidelines have been established for healthy outdoor play:

    (based on recommendations from MO Dept of Health, National Weather Service, & US Dept of Health & Human Services)

    Temperature/Heat Recommendations

    Outdoor Policy
    Heat index 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit Outside for 15-30 minutes or less
    Heat index greater than 95 degrees Fahrenheit No outdoor play time
    Air Quality index between 151-200 Vigorous outside activities in morning hours only
    Air Quality index above 200 No outside recess and physical education classes
     
    Recommendations for HEAT: If the heat index is 90 to 95 degrees, or if there is a heat advisory in effect, children should only be outside for short periods of time (15 -30 minutes or less). Time is based on the children’s appearance and behaviors. If the children are running around and playing, and do not exhibit any signs of heat illness, they can be out on the longer end.  However, if children are sitting or standing around in the shade, staff are to bring them inside. 
     
    All teaching, coaching, recess, and nursing staff have been made aware of signs indicating heat illness, including; muscle cramps, paleness or flushing, heavy sweating or complete lack of sweating, skin that is cold or clammy to the touch, excessive tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, or fainting.
     
    On “extreme” heat days – it is recommended any scheduled field trips visit inside, air-conditioned locations.  If the mode of transportation is in a vehicle without air-conditioning or by walking, the predicted temperature/heat index at the time of return trip must be considered. Most buses, even without air conditioning, still have good circulation when all windows are lowered.
     

    Anytime the temperature reaches 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, children and staff are encouraged to drink plenty of water while they are in the classroom, at recess, or in the lunchroom. People who are active should drink at least 4 ounces of water every 15 minutes.

    Recommendations for COLD:

    Temperature/Wind Chills

     Outdoor Policy
    Between 50-30 degrees Fahrenheit  Regularly scheduled outdoor play times
    Between 29-20 degrees Fahrenheit  15-20 minutes maximum
    Between 19 degrees Fahrenheit and below  No outdoor play time
     
    We ask children to have winter outerwear such as a winter coat, hat, and gloves each day during the winter season.
    The cold weather guidelines also apply for BHS students who walk to the Yeokum Center of Innovation for classes and back to BHS.  Buses will be provided if the weather is below 19 degrees.
Outdoor Recess