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5d9 ROCH STREET, W!NNPEG, MANiTOBA
P 204667.713O F 204.6615618 www.retsd.rnb.co
N
Memorandum
TO:
AU School Administrators
FROM:
Dennis Pottage, SuperintendentlCEO
bATE:
October 21, 2010
RE:
Wind Chili Factor Guidelines
Attached is a copy of “Cold Weather Guidelines for Schools” and Canada’s Wind Chill
Index.
When deciding about sending students outside at recess, the “go or not go” number of
—27°C is a guideline only. The Principal of the school has the latitude to make a decision,
when the temperature is in the range of —27°C (-25°C to —27°C), and will do so taking
into consideration local school micro-climate conditions, i.e. is the playground protected
from wind by natural or human made barriers? Also, other considerations will be such
things as the condition of the children and/or the attire of any one child on any given day.
As implied in the attached Guidelines for Schools from Environment Canada, children
might be kept indoors when in the opinion of the teacher (principal) the clothing is
inadequate for the weather conditions, despite these children having to get to and from
school in this attire.
Overall, if judiciously applied and interpreted on the side of caution and good sense, the
guidelines should protect our school children from the adverse effects of extremely cold
weather.
DRPIew
Attachments
COLb WEATHER
GUIbELINES FOR SCHOOLS
Periodically, guidelines are requested by schools regarding when students should remain
indoors during extremely cold weather.
The following guidelines have been developed to assist schools in making these
decisions.
USER GUIbELINES FOR SPECIFIC WINbCHILL
Windchill W/M
2
Effect
-17°C to -25°C
Normal winter clothing generally adequate.
conditions for most outdoor activities cease.
-25°C to -27°C
Warm winter clothing recommended.
Most outdoor
activities unpleasant without facial protection. Exposed
flesh will freeze with prolonged exposure. Shortened
Pleasant
recess period may be warranted.
NOTE:
FOR WINbCHILLS LISTEb BELOW, THE bECISION TO
KEEP STUbENTS INbOORS IS AT THE bISCRETION
OF THE PRINCIPAL.
-27°C to -34°C
Warm clothing is essential.
Facial protection is
recommended. Outdoor activities are not recommended.
Exposed skin will freeze in 10-15 minutes. Indoor
recess advised.
Below -34°C
Facial protection essential. Extremely dQngerous for
outdoor activities or travel.
Avoid going outdoors
unaccompanied. Skin will freeze in less than 10 minutes
Below -42°C
Conditions for outdoor travel such as walking becomes
dangerous. Exposed skin areas will freeze in minutes.
-windchill appears in forecasts at —25°C
-windchill warnings issued at -40°C
Weather Information:
Phone 983-2050 (recording updated
hourly) Environment Canada Info Line for temperature and
windchill factor.
Or
Internet Address: www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca
FIO5TBITE
Frostbite is a localized injury caused by cold in which the affected tissues are
frozen. It most commonly affects the toes, fingers and face (nose, ears, cheeks
and chin).
•
With continued cold, the blood supply to the extremities is steadily reduced,
accelerating the freezing process.
•
As circulation becomes impaired, sensation in the affected area is lost. Unless the
tissue is rewarmed quickly, the skin and superficial tissues actually begin to freeze
solid. If the conditions persist, the freezing enlarges and penetrates further.
•
Adequate clothing and equipment greatly reduce the risk of frostbite. Body
movement increases circulation and generates heat. Children with restricted
mobility are at greater risk of frostbite and hypothermia (dangerously low body
temperature). This is a particular concern for activities like tobogganing or sitting
on a sleigh, or other activities that include prolonged exposure.
•
bressing warmly and staying dry are essential to prevent frostbite. Children
should wear:
ahat
a neck tube or other covering for the face (covering the mouth and nose)
mittens or gloves
sleeves that are snug at the wrist
warm and water resistant proper fitting outerwear and boots
-
-
-
-
-
**
scarves should be strongly discouraged in the school setting due to the risk of
strangulation, if used they should always be tucked into a jacket
Early signs of frostbite
•
At the first sign of redness or pain in any skin area, remove the child from the
cold or protect any exposed skin, as frostbite may be beginning. Any of the
following signs may indicate frostbite:
A white or grayish-yellow skin area
Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
Numbness
-
-
-
*
SEE bEFINITIONS OF FROSTNIP ANb FROSTBITE AT ENb
NOTE: Victims are often unaware of frostbite until someone else points it out because
the frozen tissues are numb.
Treatment:
•
For early signs of superficial frostbite move the affected person to a warm room
as soon as possible
•
Warm the affected area gradually through direct contact with body heat (i.e.
place a warm hand against the affected area)
•
bo not re-expose affected area to the cold after being warmed
•
bo not raise the temperature of the affected area much above body temperature
•
bO NOT RUB SNOW ON THE AFFECTEb AREA
•
ANY RUBBING OF THE AREA MAY CAUSE FURTHER bAMAGE
•
Any suspected episode of frostbite should be reported to a parent
•
Treatment of severe frostbite should be left to properly trained medical
personnel
•
Children should be educated about the prevention and early detection of frostbite
and be instructed to report incidents of possible frostbite to their teacher
FURTHER INFORMATION:
•
At -40, frostbite is possible in less than 10 minute
•
At —35, frostbite is possible in 10
•
Frostnip: a mild form of frostbite. Skin is yellowish or white but soft to the
touch. There is a painful tingling or burning sensation of warmth
•
Frostbite: a more severe condition where the skin and underlying tissues are
frozen. Skin is white, waxy, and hard to the touch. There is no sensation
•
Treatment for frostbite (not frostnip)
Get medical help
bo not rub or massage
bo not warm until you can ensure that it will stay warm
Warm it gradually; use body heat or warm water (40 to 42°C), avoid direct
heat, which can burn
-
-
-
-
—
15 minutes
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objects that arc warmer than the actual ar
temperature. Think of a bowl of soup
you can
blow on it and cool it to room temperature, liit
you can’t make it any colder than that.
Wind chill causes open water to h-ecze Inure
quickly. Periods of high wind chill will lwosI
home heating costs and reduce the cfIectivc*css
ofautomohile blockheaters. Frostbite l,ecoyne
an increasing threat to humans and animals. Wet
skin or wet clothing in direct contact with %kin
increases the effective wind chill.
The best way to avoid the hazards of wind
chill is to check the wcather forecast and he
prepared by dressing warmly and staying dry
\Veather information is available on radio ud
TV,Weatheradio, recorded telephone lines and i
Environment Canada’s site on the intcrnci at
www.wcathcroffice.cc.gc.ca
,&...±sL.aXs-.&s.
.,
Environment Canada is introducing a new
wind chill index for Canadians. The new index
is the result of an international collaboration,
a nd is based on research of how the human
body loses heat in the cold and wind.
The new wind chill represents how the
temperature would feel on your skin if the
wind were reduced to a walking pace of 4.8
km/h. ‘l’he wind chill is expressed in
temperature-like units, but because it is not
the actual air temperature, it is given without
the degree sign. For example, if the outside
temperature is -10° C and the wind chill is
-20, it means that your face will feel as cold as
it would on a calm day when the temperature
is -20°C.
Wind chill causes objects to cool to air
temperature more rapidly than they would in
calm wind conditions. Wind chill only affects
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