What makes a HeatReady School?

167589-Thumbnail Image.png
Description

BACKGROUND: The City of Phoenix initiated the HeatReady program in 2018 to prepare for extreme heat, as there was no official tool, framework, or mechanism at the city level to manage extreme heat. The current landscape of heat safety culture

BACKGROUND: The City of Phoenix initiated the HeatReady program in 2018 to prepare for extreme heat, as there was no official tool, framework, or mechanism at the city level to manage extreme heat. The current landscape of heat safety culture in schools, which are critical community hubs, has received less illumination. HeatReady Schools—a critical component of a HeatReady City—are those that are increasingly able to identify, prepare for, mitigate, track, and respond to the negative impacts of schoolgrounds heat. However, minimal attention has been given to formalize heat preparedness in schools to mitigate high temperatures and health concerns in schoolchildren, a heat-vulnerable population. This study set out to understand heat perceptions, (re)actions, and recommendations of key stakeholders and to identify critical themes around heat readiness. METHODS: An exploratory sequential mixed-methods case study approach was used. These methods focused on acquiring new insight on heat perceptions at elementary schools through semi-structured interviews using thematic analysis and the Delphi panel. Participants included public health professionals and school community members at two elementary schools—one public charter, one public—in South Phoenix, Arizona, a region that has been burdened historically with inequitable distribution of heat resources due to environmental racism and injustices. RESULTS: Findings demonstrated that 1) current heat safety resources are available but not fully utilized within the school sites, 2) expert opinions support that extreme heat readiness plans must account for site-specific needs, particularly education as a first step, and 3) students are negatively impacted by the effects of extreme heat, whether direct or indirect, both inside and outside the classroom. CONCLUSIONS: From key informant interviews and a Delphi panel, a list of 30 final recommendations were developed as important actions to be taken to become “HeatReady.” Future work will apply these recommendations in a HeatReady School Growth Tool that schools can tailor be to their individual needs to improve heat safety and protection measures at schools.

Date Created
2022-04-18
Agent

Taking it Outside: Does Moving Class Outdoors Help Students Concentrate?

165558-Thumbnail Image.png
Description
Does holding class outdoors have a restorative impact for students? An experimental case study was done at an elementary school in Phoenix to explore this question. A group of 2nd grade students were given a cognitive assessment to measure concentration

Does holding class outdoors have a restorative impact for students? An experimental case study was done at an elementary school in Phoenix to explore this question. A group of 2nd grade students were given a cognitive assessment to measure concentration following exposure to different learning environments, i.e. their classroom and schoolyard. Results indicate that holding class outdoors may have a restorative influence on children's capacity to direct attention.
Date Created
2022-05
Agent

Behavior Influencing Acute Hydration Status of Recreational Hikers in Hot and Moderate Weather Conditions

161317-Thumbnail Image.png
Description
Annually, more than 200 hikers are rescued in the greater Phoenix area. This study examined behavior influencing acute hydration status in hot (HOT) and moderate (MOD) climates, by examining fluid planning and decision making in combination with an educational video.

Annually, more than 200 hikers are rescued in the greater Phoenix area. This study examined behavior influencing acute hydration status in hot (HOT) and moderate (MOD) climates, by examining fluid planning and decision making in combination with an educational video. A total of n=115 hikers completed self-paced hikes, n=56 hikers completed the hike in a HOT condition (wet bulb globe temperature [WBGT]=24.84°C) and n=59 hikers completed the hike in a MOD condition (WBGT=8.28°C). Real food and fluid behavior allowed participants to freely select the amount of food and fluid brought on the hike and intake was ad libitum. The following heat stress indicators were all significantly higher in the HOT condition compared to MOD condition (HOT median, MOD median; p-value): hike duration (1.48, 1.20; p<0.01), energy expenditure (561, 408, p<0.01), sweat rate (776, 465, p<0.01), and session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores (1177, 732, p<0.01). After watching a 3-minute hydration education video, and the opportunity to stock up on extra fluid, 54% of participants carried sufficient fluid in the HOT condition to meet their needs compared to 81% of participants in the MOD condition. However, only 23% of participants in the HOT condition consumed sufficient fluid to make up for fluid lost through sweating compared to 33% in the MOD condition. More than half of participants in the HOT condition (59%) and the MOD condition (76%) did not stock up on extra fluid after education. These results demonstrate that hikers did not consume sufficient fluids to meet their needs while hiking, especially in a hot climate. They also show heat stress negatively affected hikers’ performance measures. More research is required to assess the feasibility and efficacy of hydration related education videos at trailheads.
Date Created
2021
Agent