Wind chill and outdoor recess

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Specializes in Pedi.

Hello from chilly New England!

I was wondering what protocols other schools follow when it comes to outdoor recess during very cold weather. This year my principal has asked that I make the recommendation about indoor vs. outdoor recess on severely cold days. I have a couple of wind chill charts printed, but I don't know when the cutoff should be made.

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We do indoor recess/gym for anything below 30 degrees, factoring in windchill and "how it feels". I am in NY (Long Island) so many colder places will set that temperature cutoff lower but their students will also come in better prepared for outdoor cold play. I put a sign out on the gym door each morning indicating if it is an indoor or outdoor day.

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health, Home Care.

My district is in Wisconsin, our cut off is 10 degrees or a wind chill of -10.

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Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

Wow!! people in Wisconsin are very tough! We're at about 35 taking in windchill - but i don't make the call so i'm estimating

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I'm LI as well. I'm also not a Weather Girl.

Shouldn't the Principal make that call?

(I'm working in a HS, we don't have recess, but the kids are still walking around in lacrosse shorts and hoodies, freezing their patooties off.)

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
My district is in Wisconsin, our cut off is 10 degrees or a wind chill of -10.
We probably wouldn't even have school way down here in south Texas if it was 10 degrees. For sure no one would go outside!!!!!
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Specializes in retired LTC.
My district is in Wisconsin, our cut off is 10 degrees or a wind chill of -10.
Dang - I wouldn't even get out of bed with those temps! Push the electric blanket up a notch!
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My district is in Wisconsin, our cut off is 10 degrees or a wind chill of -10.

There is no recess at the school I work at (5th and 6th grade), but my kids' school this is the same. We're in Chicagoland. We just got a note from school yesterday reminding to "dress kids for the weather" and my son has lost his brand new insulated gloves :sour:

Tomorrow the high is supposed to be -3, so I'm thinking school might end up cancelled for the day.

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Upstate NY and we stay in in if temp (factoring wind chill) is below 20 degrees.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

A good friend of mine who lives outside of Fairbanks, Alaska, told me that they don't bring the kids inside from recess until the temp drops below -30F. Of course they're all dressed for very cold weather anyway...

So I would say that before you decide what temp/wind chill temp is necessary to bring the kids in from recess, determine how they're usually dressed for cold weather. It might also be a good idea to suggest what to wear during periods of low-temp days. For me, right now, I'm just wearing a long sleeve shirt, slacks, and shoes. I'm good to go to be out in temps down to around 45-50F for a while. Put me in a hat, thermal underwear (top & pants) and what I'm wearing now and I'll be good down to about 28F as long as my fingers & toes stay warm. Some insulated gloves and shoes/boots and I'm good to go well down into the teens as long as there's no wind. With wind, I'm looking at a jacket and a windproof shell (like snowboard pants) and I'm good well below 0F.

Back when I was about 12, I wore a very similar setup to that last one (snow bibs, gloves, insulated boots, etc) and I was just fine down to about -20F as long as I was at least somewhat active.

Because dress and acclimitization to cold/weather does vary by region, "one size" just doesn't fit all. You have to really take a look at all those variables into account before you make any recommendations. Also, consider that any teachers/yard monitors that have to also be outside will not likely be moving much, so they won't be able to tolerate temps that active kids will if they're wearing the same clothing/gear.

While I'm an RN, I'm also an Athletic Trainer (by training) and this is one of those things that we had to at least know how to deal with. Usually the "outside temp" issue is one of too high temps...

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Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health, Home Care.

They do close school sometimes for extreme cold--considering that some kids walk to school and some wait for a bus. But you guys are making me feel like a pioneer woman on the plains. In reality, I'm outside about two minutes three or four times a day as I travel from building to building.

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Specializes in Pedi.

Looks like our rule of thumb is going to be any windchill in the single digits and the kiddos stay inside. Today the windchill was 19 and they went out....no cases of frostbite to report today! Here's hoping for some warmer temps soon! The principal does make the ultimate call, but I'm happy that she holds my recommendation in high regard (previous administrators did not do so.)

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