How East Texas schools handle the heat at recess

POLLOCK, Texas ( KETK ) — Temperatures are heating up as schools get back into the swing of things, some East Texas schools are working to keep kids safe from the heat.

“Especially in Texas we have extreme heat at times, and so there’s often we have to close the playground and do recess indoors, that’s our last resort,” Amanda Wright, Central ISD Elementary principal, said.

At Central ISD in Angelina County they explained that they know how important recess is, especially for their elementary students.

“They have a shorter attention span so we definitely want them to have that time to get outside, burn off some of that energy, and get back into the classroom and learn,” Tiffani Brantner, Central ISD Elementary registered nurse, said.

As students have fun on the playground, teachers are watching for heat-related illness symptoms. “Headaches dizziness if we’re getting red in the face if we’re sweating excessively if we’re, just tired if they’re tired if we complaining of being nauseated, those are things that our staff is looking out for,” said Brantner.

The elementary principal said all students should bring a water bottle to school if they can.

“Send water bottles, we have water refill sections throughout our buildings, down our halls,” Wright said.

Central ISD also encourages parents to dress their students with high temperatures in mind.

“Light-colored loose-fitting clothes, we want the kids to have water bottles they can fill those at school, if we have long thick hair it’s better if that is pulled up, just so our kiddos are not as hot when they are getting out to recess,” Brantner said.

Even through the warmer weather, staff is making sure students are safe at all times.

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