Cold weather guidelines for schools

Weather can affect your health. Health Canada provides an overview of wind chill and cold weather.

Review the recommendations for schools:

• Establish both a policy and a plan to deal with potential consequences of extreme temperatures and winter storms (power outages, lack of transportation). Have an emergency kit available.
• Reduce the amount of time children spend outdoors when the temperature is -20 degrees Celsius or colder (with or without wind chill).
• Keep children indoors when the temperature is -25 degrees Celsius or colder (with or without wind chill). Some medical conditions may increase sensitivity to cold and parents should consult their doctor for advice.
• Allow indoor breaks if children say they are feeling cold or during extreme temperatures.
• Ensure children are dressed warmly, covering exposed skin: insulated boots, winter weight coats, mittens, hats, and neck warmers.
• Change wet clothing or footwear immediately.
• Although these conditions are unlikely to occur during the school day, ensure that all staff can recognize and treat symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia. Give plenty of warm fluids to prevent dehydration.
• When children are outside, be watchful for shivering or signs of numbness.
• Educate parents and children about dealing with cold weather. Drinking plenty of fluids, dressing warmly, and recognizing signs of cold injury.

Signs of cold injury

• Mild cold injury: Shivering or numbness in face, hands, feet, and ears.
• Frostbite: Skin may look whitish or greyish yellow, feel hard or waxy and be numb.
• Severe hypothermia: Fatigue, confusion, or slurring of speech – call 911, this is an emergency.
   

Treatment of cold injuries

Move the person out of the cold as soon as possible, then:

• Remove wet clothing.
• Warm the affected area slowly. Use warm – not hot water. Use warm hands/body heat (do not rub).

If you cannot move the person out of the cold:

• Cover them with something dry such as clothing or blankets while waiting for help.
• Do not attempt to warm the affected area because warming and refreezing will cause greater damage to the area.
• Give warm drinks.
   

Avoid additional injury

Tissue suffering from cold injury is fragile and can be easily damaged. Do not rub the area. The affected area is numb and easily burned.

Do not heat quickly by using hot water, hot water bottles, heating pads, or electric blankets.