Updates

Fun Fit Heat Index and Air Quality Safety Plan

7/10/2023

What is the heat index?

"It's not the heat, it's the humidity".  That's a partly valid phrase you may have heard in the summer, but it's actually both.  The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. This has important considerations for the human body's comfort.  When the body gets too hot, it begins to perspire or sweat to cool itself off. If the perspiration is not able to evaporate, the body cannot regulate its temperature. Evaporation is a cooling process. When perspiration is evaporated off the body, it effectively reduces the body's temperature. When the atmospheric moisture content (i.e. relative humidity) is high, the rate of evaporation from the body decreases. In other words, the human body feels warmer in humid conditions. The opposite is true when the relative humidity decreases because the rate of perspiration increases. The body actually feels cooler in arid conditions. There is a direct relationship between the air temperature and relative humidity and the heat index, meaning as the air temperature and relative humidity increase (decrease), the heat index increases (decreases).

In accordance with the above chart (National Weather Service), the following will be the protocols for Fun Fit to keep students and staff safe from heat-related illnesses.

- Temperatures below 80° at any humidity, activities will not be restricted.

The following scenarios will be within the “Caution” range of the National Weather Service Heat Index Scale. In these scenarios, the Fun Fit team will exercise extra precautions. These precautions include modified exercise types, extra water breaks, shade tents, ice towels, and possible reduction in outdoor activity time. These scenarios include:

- Temperature of 80° with humidity up to 100%.

- Temperature of 82° with humidity up to 85%.

- Temperature of 84° with humidity up to 70%.

- Temperature of 86° with humidity up to 55%.

- Temperature of 88° with humidity up to 45%.

The following scenarios will be within the “Extreme Caution” range of the National Weather Service Heat Index Scale. In these scenarios, the Fun Fit team will exercise extreme precautions. These precautions include a bus ride to and from the athletic fields, mandatory water breaks every 15-20 minutes, no intense exercises, shade tents, ice towels, and possible reduction in outdoor activity time. The Fun Fit team will also use discretion on whether or not it is more prudent to keep outdoor activities close to the school so heat exposure is easier to limit for the students. These scenarios include:

- Temperature of 82° with humidity of 90% or higher.

- Temperature of 84° with humidity of 75% or higher.

- Temperature of 86° with humidity of 60% - 85%.

- Temperature of 88° with humidity of 50% - 70%.

- Temperature of 90° with humidity of 40% - 65%.

- Temperature of 92° with humidity of 40% - 55%.

- Temperature of 94° with humidity of 40% - 50%.

- Temperature of 96° with humidity of 40%.

The following scenarios are categorized as “Danger” or “Extreme Danger” on the National Weather Service Heat Index Scale. Both categories will be treated the same by the Fun Fit team and all outdoor activities will not be permitted. Only indoor activities will be offered during these scenarios:

- Temperature of 86° with humidity of 90% or higher.

- Temperature of 88° with humidity of 75% or higher.

- Temperature of 90° with humidity of 70% or higher.

- Temperature of 92° with humidity of 60% or higher.

- Temperature of 94° with humidity of 55% or higher.

- Temperature of 96° with humidity of 45% or higher.

- Temperature of 98° and above with humidity over 40%.

If you are still uncomfortable with your child being outdoors on any given day, please keep your child home for that day.

If your child will be absent, please call the main office at 201-662-6807.

Thank you,

Fun Fit Team