Cold and Heat Advisory Guidelines

Cold and heat weather advisories are crucial for school activities like recess and physical education as they help ensure the safety and well-being of students by preventing exposure to extreme temperatures. Schools and parents should carefully review the recommended guidelines below to make informed decisions, ensuring that outdoor activities are conducted in a way that protects children from weather-related risks.

SUGGESTED Cold Advisory Guidelines for Physical Education & Recess

Please utilize the following guidelines for physical education classes and school recess.
Each school should determine the criteria for such a decision and who will make the judgment call at the local school. The decision-making process may vary from grade to grade.

Conditions that are to be considered:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Heat Index
• Age of students
• Length of time outside
• Adequacy of the clothing being worn

Recess and Physical Activity/Physical Education Classes

1. When properly clothed, elementary-aged students can participate outdoors in most weather conditions. Increased caution, including wind chill, should be displayed when temperatures fall below 40 degrees.
2. Students will remain indoors when the temperature and wind chill fall below 35 degrees.
3. Each year, students and parents should be reminded of the school's cold weather guidelines, along with reminders about dressing appropriately for weather conditions,
4. Temperature considerations and suggested dress:

   • Cold Index	Activity Limitations
     Over 60 Degrees	No limitations
     Below 60 Degrees	A jacket and or/long sleeves recommended
     Below 50 Degrees	A coat and long pants are recommended.
     Below 40 Degrees	Gloves and hats, along with the previously mentioned items.
     Below 35 Degrees	Indoor recess and PE classes

5. Schools should try to honor reasonable parent/guardian requests to allow students to stay indoors. Requests based on health conditions should be honored; specifically, asthmatic children may need special accommodations during cold weather. The school should work with the parents to plan when the child cannot participate in outdoor activities.

SUGGESTED Heat Advisory Guidelines When Local Temperatures Exceed 90 Degrees

Atlanta Public Schools promote healthy student activities that include opportunities for outdoor physical activity. Consistent with this commitment, we have compiled guidelines for decision-making when local weather may harm our students and staff's health and safety.  The guidelines below, provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics, are intended to provide preventive strategies that may limit or reverse certain activities for physical education and other outdoor activities before, during, and after school.

Each school should determine the criteria for such a decision and who will make the judgment call at the local school. The decision-making process may vary from grade to grade. To view local heat/cold weather advisories, please visit Atlanta Heat/Weather Maps

Conditions to consider 

• Temperature
• Humidity 
• Heat Index 
• Age of students 
• Length of time outside 
• Is the area being used shaded? 

The Most Common Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

• Confusion
• Dark-colored urine (a sign of dehydration)
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or abdominal cramps
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Pale skin
• Profuse sweating
• Rapid heartbeat

Recess and Physical Activity Guidelines

1. Temperatures may feel hotter than the current degrees indicated. When the temperature reaches 95 degrees or above, principals should reconsider outside student recess, physical education classes, and field trips and provide for inside physical activity in an air-conditioned environment. 
2. Teachers should give students a water break before and after recess. They should also monitor students and take action if one shows signs of heat exhaustion or overheating. Students should be hydrated before going outside and have access to drinking water while outside. In activities lasting longer than 30 minutes, periodic water breaks should be incorporated (approximately every 10 minutes or as needed).
3. Teachers need to be aware of medical conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, allergies, medications taken, etc., which place students at higher risks for heat-related issues. These conditions may be intensified in hot weather.

• • Air Quality Index should also be considered when deciding on outdoor activity. Please click the following link for Local Air Quality Conditions: https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&zipcode=30303&submit=Go.

Physical Education Classes 

1. When the heat index reaches the 90s, physical education classes should remain indoors if possible. Remember, temperatures may feel hotter than the current degrees indicated.
2. Students should be allowed frequent water breaks while participating in physical activity and have access to water as needed.
3. Teachers should be aware of medical conditions such as asthma, epilepsy, allergies, medications taken, etc., which place students at higher risks for heat-related issues. These conditions may be intensified in hot weather.

During the school year, on days that exceed 95 degrees or above, schools should be on alert regarding a Heat Advisory. Please see the chart below for activity limitations and recommendations.