A school bus makes it's way during morning's freezing temperatures reaching bellow 25 degrees ... [+]
Brutally cold temperatures coupled with winds whipping through parts of the American South this week could pose a health risk for school children. Amid what feels like single-digit temperatures (perhaps even below zero) in my home state of Georgia and a Wind Chill Advisory until 10 a.m. Wednesday, I awoke to see if there was a notice in my inbox about school delays or virtual learning approaches.
While people in colder climates are probably rolling their eyes by now, people in the South do not routinely experience such temperatures, and many are not prepared for them. This is not average winter cold. We are experiencing anomalous cold this week. While many school systems in the South are conditioned to make decisions based on dangerous road conditions or severe weather, they ignore the most deadly weather of them all. Extreme temperatures (heat and cold) kill more people in the U.S. each year than any other weather event. Unfortunately, it takes telegenic or tangible events like ice storms or hurricanes to get our attention. This tendency is not unique to this particular scenario. People also underestimate the danger of extreme heat, too. They will run a 10K or cut the grass in dangerous heat conditions.
Temperature anomalies on January 17th, 2024. The map reveals anomalously cold air in the South.
On the National Weather Service website, I found a blog entry called, “Closing for Cold.” “Education is a basic civil right to every citizen,” wrote Dr. John Schultz, then superintendent of the Hopkins Minnesota School District. “When schools close, the loss of education and student learning is always central in the decision.” For many students, school is a shelter, support system and source of a hot meal. However, Schultz also noted that he is very cognizant of extreme cold temperatures and uses National Weather Service hourly temperature information to determine if closures or delays are warranted.
The National Weather Service has resources for schools to help plan for cold weather
The National Weather Service site cautions, “Snow and ice are common causes for school closures, but extreme cold is another factor that Superintendents must consider during the winter season.” The wind chill on Wednesday, as measured by a weatherSTEM unit at a school near my home, was close to zero degrees at 6 a.m. Such wind chills are hazardous to students at bus stops and to school staff who may have car drop off or parking lot management assignments. The National Weather Service site continues, “Wind chill considers both wind speed and air temperature to better approximate how quickly the body loses heat... skin is especially at risk for frostbite when the air is cold and winds are strong.”
I am certain that many school districts limit outdoor activities during school at certain temperature thresholds. What’s different about waiting on the bus? A few school districts in the Atlanta area delayed start times, and that is a prudent decision. My focus is on children here because, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics website, “Because of their unique physiology, children are more susceptible to temperature extremes and their health effects,” and, it adds, “less able to regulate their body temperature compared with adults.” Another factor is socioeconomic vulnerability. Not every child has a parent who can sit in a car at the bus stop with them. Additionally, there are some kids who will not have adequate clothing to weather the cold. Heck, my own kid probably does not have the proper clothing. We live in Georgia, for goodness sake.
It’s critical that school systems consider these factors and approach extreme temperature planning with the same vigor that they think about snow days or tornado threats.
