Ramadan & Field Day

[SavyNurse]

Hi. New School nurse and have a very diverse student population. Ramadan started last week and I have a good amount of kids 1st-6th grade come in complaining of headache, stomach ache, nausea, dizzy. The kids, as well as some parents, have stated it is probably due to the fasting. I knew the basics of Ramadan but did not learn until today that the kids can't even have a sip of water during daylight hours.

We have Field day next week and I brought my concerns to the administrators about kids fasting and then participating in strenuous activities during field day. I don't want them to be excluded but they are already having trouble during the day just sitting in class. I'm in South Carolina so it can be 80s here by mid morning.

I have been told that kids have passed out before on field day and that with them drinking water and eating.

Has any one else been through this and what has your school done? The admins want me to write a letter to parents and I don't even know where to begin.

*This post is not in regards to religion or religious beliefs. I am just concerned for health and safety*

[OldDude]

I send a letter to all students before Field Day and our annual 5K PTA fundraiser - topics include Allergies: take meds at home, kids outside on grassy field, I do not have meds. Sunscreen: Apply at home or send in with student to apply them selves; school does not provide. Hydration & Snacks: reminder to eat good breakfast, hydrate (hot and muggy here), bring water bottle to refill. Extra clothing: during field day there are water activities, kids will get wet, send in extra clothing if you think your child will be uncomfortable when they return to air conditioned cold room. Inhalers/Neb medication: be sure to provide my office with inhalers and/or neb meds - never fails, I almost always have a handful of kids that wheeze, c/o SOB etc after participating in these events and never have issues during the rest of the year.

This is a good idea...smarty pants!

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

i believe i was in the same situation last year with my students and Ramadan. My concern was taking a student on an overnight field trip where we had meals times out and long days of walking tours and this student not eating or drinking. His parent stated that despite him being of the age where he needed to observe, concessions could be made for special events and that he would be eating with the group and drinking as needed. I am sure you don't want to single your students out, but if it's a reasonable amout of students where you can make a call to the parents to explain the situation and see how they'd like to proceed to still honor their religion but also keep their child's safety as top priority, then perhaps that would work out best. Also, your younger students should not have to fast, they typically don't until puberty. Granted, i'm seeing puberty hit some kids on the early side.

[SavyNurse, ADN, EMT-B]

So I talked to the gym teacher running field day about my concerns and she said some students and parents have already said that they would skip that day due to fasting. I talked to my admin and I think we agreed a generic reminder, like AdobeRN stated, would be best to include everyone on the Friday email. Thank you everyone. I definitely didn't want to open any can of worms.

[OyWithThePoodles, RN]

I really like the idea of doing it before Ramadan next year!!

[scuba nurse, BSN, MSN, RN]

For field day we send home a permission slip that needs to be signed anyway, and all the info about the day, including food and water...etc...

In terms of the Ramadan, I too have little ones who are fasting, and kept up half the night to eat and are so sleepy during the day. I understand their religion, but I think there should be some kind of a pass that they get for school days, esp. the little ones.

[Have Nurse, ADN, RN]

Could you encourage your administration to be culturally sensitive and schedule field day before Ramadan for next year? Being in the south, you are a little more flexible with the weather.

I think that is a good idea.

[skylark, BSN, RN]

Scheduling around Ramadan is a good idea, but just be aware its not the same time every year.

Its not on a conventional 52 year schedule, and it moves forward around 3 weeks every year.

[SavyNurse, ADN, EMT-B]

Spoke with admin again and turns out my director (who runs everything and has final say) is actually participating in Ramadan also. From what I've read it isn't supposed to be until puberty but I know for a fact I have 2nd graders doing it. Anyway my director said they should not be participating in field day due to concerns for safety and helath and he would look into it and speak to them. Go for it... you're the director and I won't get in trouble :-) We are sending out a generic message though like AdobeRN had with everything but a change of clothes on there. We wear uniforms and no water activities so we should (fingers crossed) be safe.

[skylark, BSN, RN]

Just noticed my typo but can't change it, it should read "52 week" year. The Islamic calendar does not follow our 52 week year, and so Ramadan moves forward around 3 weeks each year.

We used to get a lot of problems in Europe with paramedics hypo-ing at this time, especially those on 12 hour shifts, sometimes they were too shaky and faint to drive, never mind care for patients.

But I've never heard of the fast including a ban on drinking water before.

Where in the Qran does it say that?

[SavyNurse, ADN, EMT-B]

But I've never heard of the fast including a ban on drinking water before.

Where in the Qran does it say that?

According to staff here who observe it as well as research I have done water is not allowed. Had no clue.

[CocoBug20]

Hey- just an answer from someone who fasted as a kid all the time- make sure the parents know the kids are fasting. Sometimes kids can be stubborn enough to do it even when their parents don't want them to or don't know the situation- I can't imagine what parent would want a kid (who isn't even obligated to fast) to go around passing out and showing signs of severe dehydration. That's another thing- Islam doesn't oblige kids to fast at all and adults are exempt if it makes them too ill, so point out to the parents- maybe? Something else you could put in the letter is advice on what to eat for the pre-dawn meal, because a bowl of cereal isn't going to cut it. My sister and I drink Carnation and we eat things like carbs and protein and just things that will carry you through the day.

But I'll say it again- kids grades 1-6 don't have to fast anyhow, so you could explain to them that when they feel sick it's okay to break the fast. They usually- at least in my experience- want to participate on their own and it's okay as long as they're healthy, but if they're sick I'd be concerned. Please reply if you have any more questions...I haven't been able to participate much yet and would be glad to help.

Edit: just saw that you already have a solution, but hope this helped some anyway.