As the school year winds down and temperatures go up, this AZ district implements its heat policy

In the last few months of school, one Valley district starts taking heat precautions now.

The Dysart Unified School District uses similar guidelines to those released in 2021 by of the Arizona Department of Health Services to help prevent heat illness among students. After a few days in 90 degree temperatures, DUSD is enforcing heat protocols.

“Anytime we start to fall into those ranges, we begin operating under the policy,” said Craig Mussi, superintendent for support services at Dysart Unified School District.

Schools across the district have modified recesses starting at temperatures above 90 degrees. If temperatures reach over 110 degrees, all recess and activities are moved indoors.

The district used the Arizona Risk Retention Heat Index as its model for determining when and how long students can be outside in extreme temperatures.

“This has been years since those guidelines came into play,” Mussi said. “They were re-enforced by the AIA and health organizations that already had those (guidelines) prescribed.”

The district has an automated system that monitors the heat index. If a heat advisory is issued, an alert is sent out to staff to take proper precautions.

Athletic trainers use the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Monitoring Chart to determine the potential need for modifications to practices or games.

“Any kid who tells you at any time they need water, you never question that. You automatically send them to go get water,” Mussi said. “Plus there is the training side of it, where we teach them what to look for if there are any signs, you know that maybe there’s something indicating a kid is struggling.”

During summer months, the district keeps the same heat policy. Summer practices may be scheduled earlier in the morning or moved inside.

Water bottle refilling stations are in most schools across DUSD to help encourage hydration.

In addition to reminding students to drink water, heat education is implemented in athletics and teacher training. Student athletes and parents have to learn the signs of heat ailments to be cleared to play.

Parents can help prevent heat illnesses by providing children with water and encourage clothes that cover them from the sun, Mussi said.

“Water is everything that’s important,” Mussi said.