Extreme Weather and Public Health

School Toolkit

The Heat Illness Prevention School Project is a toolkit created by the Arizona Department of Health Services in response to a CDC Morbidity & Mortality Report (MMWR) published in 2010. The report found that heat illness during practice or competition is a leading cause of death and disability among U.S. high school athletes (MMWR, 2010). In 2011, another MMWR also highlighted heat illness occurring at schools. The report discussed the importance of effective heat illness prevention messages. Messages should target all persons who are physically active. This population includes those who participate in unstructured sports and recreational activities. Within this group, teenagers ages 15-19 are at greatest risk for heat-related illness (MMWR, 2011).

The goal of the toolkit is to educate students, school staff, athletic coaches, and parents regarding heat-related illness and prevention. The Heat Illness Prevention School Project aims to reduce the number of heat-related illnesses in schools.

Toolkit Contents

• HIPSP Cover Letter
• School Video (see below)
• Indoor Activity and Play Booklet for Kids & Teens
• It's Hot Outside Brochure
• It's Hot Outside Poster
• Heat Illness Word Search [Answer Key]
• Heat-Related Illness Crossword Puzzle & Answer Key
• School Tip Sheet
• Parent/Caregiver Information Sheet
• Recognizing, Preventing, and Treating Heat-Related Illness: A Web-Based CDC Training Course
  Learn about heat-related illness, warning signs and symptoms, and treatment options. In addition, keep your school safe from extreme heat by studying prevention strategies presented in this course. This is a web-based training intended for school nurses, teachers, coaches, and students. Continuing Education Credits (CECs) are available until 6/1/2013. The course takes approximately one hour to complete.
• Heat Related Illness Prevention Training Guide for School Staff
  The Heat Related Illness Prevention Training Guide for School Staff is a presentation with instructions on how to use the CDC's online course listed above and earn continuing education credits.

Stay Informed: Sign Up for School Heat Alerts!

The Extreme Weather & Public Health Program values your partnership and your time. In an effort to be more efficient, we are changing the system we use to communicate health related information to you. This list will be used for Heat Alerts; it will not replace but will enhance the person to person contact you have come to expect. Registering for this email communication will allow us to keep you up to date on information that supports your efforts to improve the health of all Arizonans.

To add yourself to this list please do the following:

• Visit the ADHS Communications sign up page
• Enter your email address and click "Continue"
• Click the box next to "School Heat Alerts"
• Feel free to choose additional topics you would like to receive info on from ADHS

PSA

This PSA is intended for use in the school office or to be played over morning announcements. Click the play button below to listen or download the audio file by right-clicking the download the audio file link and then choose Save Target As... (Internet Explorer), Save Link As... (Firefox), Download Linked Files As... (Safari), or Save link as... (Google Chrome).

Video

Watch the newly released Arizona Department of Health Services Heat Illness Prevention School Project video. Teachers, coaches, nurses and educators are able to easily stream the video into the classroom to teach students the basics about heat illness prevention. Check it out and share the link with your students and fellow teachers to learn more about Heat Illness prevention and lower heat illness occurrences in your school! This video is a component of the Heat Illness Prevention School Project curriculum.

Additional Resources

• Heat Index Chart with Health Recommendations
• National Health Education Standards and Heat Related Illness Prevention (Grades 9-12)

Note: Files are PDF format unless otherwise stated.