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Outdoor Temperature Guidelines

The Sunnyside School District uses the following guidelines when making hot and cold weather decisions.

For school recesses and outdoor activities, the Weather Watch chart is used and referred to on an hourly basis when the weather reaches temperatures of concern.

For Athletics, the following guidelines are used:

Daily temperatures and humidity readings should be obtained before practice in order to monitor the heat index. Modifications to the practice schedule should be made based on the severity of the existing environmental conditions. Any weather above 80 degrees would initiate the heat exposure procedure. The Emergency Care Team will determine air temperature and relative humidity using the available applications or charts available. Suggested sport specific modifications based on temperature and humidity readings are as follows: 

80 to 95 Degrees Heat Index 

  • Provide ample amounts of water. This means that water should always be available and athletes should be able to take in as much water as they desire; 
  • Optional water breaks every 30 minutes for 10 minutes in duration; 
  • Ice-down towels for cooling; 
  • Watch/Monitor athletes carefully for necessary action. 

95 to 99 Degrees Heat Index 

  • Provide ample amounts of water. This means that water should always be available and athletes should be able to take in as much water as they desire; 
  • Mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes for 10 minutes in duration; ● Ice-down towels for cooling; 
  • Watch/Monitor athletes carefully for necessary action; 
  • Contact sports and activities with additional equipment allow athletes to remove helmets and other equipment if not involved in contact; 
  • Reduce the time of outside activity. Consider postponing practice to later in the day; ● Recheck temperature and humidity every 30 minutes to monitor for increased Heat Index. 

100 to 104 Degrees Heat Index 

  • Provide ample amounts of water. This means that water should always be available and athletes should be able to take in as much water as they desire; 
  • Mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes for 10 minutes in duration; ● Ice-down towels for cooling; 
  • Watch/Monitor athletes carefully for necessary action; 
  • Alter Uniform by removing items if possible; 
  • Allow for changes to dry shirts and shorts; 
  • Reduce the time of outside activity as well as indoor activity if air conditioning is unavailable; 
  • Postpone practice to a later time in the day; 
  • Contact sports and activities with additional equipment. Helmets and other equipment removed if not involved in contact or necessary for safety. If necessary for safety, suspend activity. 
  • Recheck temperature and humidity every 30 minutes to monitor for increased Heat Index. 

Above 104 Degrees Heat Index 

  • Stop all outside activity; 
  • Stop all inside activity if no air conditioning is available.