As children in Lowndes County returned to school Thursday to begin the 2011-2012 year, high temperatures and a heat advisory on the area caused concern for child safety.
Sale International Studies Magnet School in Columbus decided to keep students inside the air-conditioned school gymnasium during recess hours.
“We”re watching it very closely. We”re always concerned about a child”s safety. It doesn”t take much for a child to get heat exhaustion,” Nancy Bragg, Sale Elementary principal, said. “We have a gym that we can use for our kids to give them some physical activity throughout the day.”
Temperatures reached a high of 98 degrees Friday and do not appear to be getting much cooler. Accuweather.com listed today”s high at 99 degrees, Monday”s high at 96 degrees, Tuesday”s high at 94 degrees, Wednesday”s high at 93 degrees and Thursday with a high of 91 degrees.
Bragg said the school kept kids inside during recess Thursday and Friday, and as long as the temperatures stay high that will not change.
“We”ll monitor it every day and take care of our children,” Bragg said. “We had a staff meeting and we talked about not going out as long as the heat index was as high as it was.”
The school also takes steps to keep kids hydrated during class.
“We also keep water bottles at all of our children”s desk to keep them hydrated,” Bragg said.
The potentially dangerous heat also could affect kids practicing sports after school.
Caledonia Schools Athletic Director Josh Scott said shorter drills and practice times and more frequent and longer water breaks are the steps being taken to ensure safety.
“No, basically now we are monitoring the kids health and water breaks.
“We are reminding the kids that it doesn”t start at practice time,” Scott said, noting the schools are advocating kids drink fluids to stay hydrated throughout the school day.
Scott also said there have not been instances of a student becoming dehydrated while practicing.
Rain showers saving crops
The high temperatures also could affect crops.
Noxubee County farmer Howard Smart said his crops have avoided damage due to the “spot showers” that have provided moisture.
“We”ve been getting spot showers in different places,” he said. “It could be worse than in other areas.
“Those spot showers have helped me a whole lot.”
Smart said he has not noticed damages to the crops, but without the rain, he thinks the heat would have eliminated them.
“If the showers had held off like it did before a month ago, if it was still like that now, there wouldn”t be any crops,” he said.
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