Overheated

[SnowyJ, RN]

How do I find a way to get staff to understand that if a child feels overheated, they aren't 'sick," they just need water and to cool down.

It's warm here this week. The kids don't know their limits with activity. They run full bore at recess, get red faced and drenched in sweat, then ask to come see me. of course, the teachers/aides always say ok.

Yesterday I turned 4 little red faces away. I told them to go into the bathroom, splash cold water on their faces and get a drink. Crisis averted.

This goes on all day once recess starts. I've given heat index info, encouraged staff to have the kids tone down activity when it's hot, sit in shade, etc. What else can I do?

[Farawyn]

The heat index is above and beyond, IMO. I think you are doing what you can. Maybe an email to encourage hydration?

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

It hasn't gotten too terrible bad here yet, but i'm sure it will. I know if you live down in the south, it gets pretty bad - but I suppose many of those schools are out by now. I'm wondering if the budget fairy would have a little surplus for you tucked away somewhere for a new toy? It's not really for you as much as it is for the sanity of the people of the people doing recess and perhaps the PE staff - so your business office may have a number of pots to draw pennies out of. But maybe a mist generator might provide some added relief and cut the problem off before it starts. Especially (since they're no terribly costly - the one pictured is about $360 and they sell a bigger fancier one for less than $500 if a few were purchased and placed in key locations.