COLUMBUS, Ohio – While the majority of schools in the state have switched to air conditioning, others still struggle without the proper HVAC system.
Some schools across the state have had to make difficult decisions regarding the heat this week. Officials at the Lockland School District in the Cincinnati area announced that their main campus would be closed for the rest of the week due to extreme heat.
Older school buildings without adequate air conditioning and ventilation can cause heat-related illnesses such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. According to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, children are less likely to show signs of overheating such as sweating and are therefore more susceptible to these heat-related illnesses.
Schools that remain open are advised to offer more water breaks and keep children indoors during recess. Minimizing heat in the classroom by turning off computers and monitors can also help. Experts recommend that parents bring a frozen water bottle or Gatorade to school so they can provide extra hydration and cooling.
Ryan Marino, associate professor of emergency medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, says it’s up to teachers to pay attention to students’ behavior, which could be a sign that they’re overheating.
“Children don’t necessarily show the same signs or realize when the heat makes them sick, and may even act more agitated or irritable,” Marino said. “That could be a sign that they need this type of cooling and hydration more than the other way around.”
Lack of air conditioning and adequate ventilation is not a problem unique to Ohio. According to a report from the Center for American Progress, about 36,000 schools nationwide do not have adequate HVAC systems. Organizations are taking notice, and in June over twenty different health and education advocacy groups signed a letter urging the Department of Education to send guidance on how districts can better protect children from the heat.
The letter’s recommendations included sending out a plan that counties could use during high temperatures, urging states to provide more funding to provide air conditioning, and providing additional information on heat hazards.
