Senior Reporter
rhondor.dowlat@guardian.co.tt
Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly yesterday urged parent/guardians and school administrators to take all measures to to protect children against the heat wave currently affecting schools across the country. However, as classroom temperatures climb, she said she is confident in the ability of school administrators to manage risks associated with heat and increased humidity.
Confirming measures have been taken by school administrators and the ministry to manage the heat, Gadsby-Dolly said, “Schools are accustomed dealing with heat. Principals and teachers are accustomed putting things in place. They may take students outside if it is too hot in the classroom. It may be a record for today, but along our history of having schools, there have been record days of heat and so students and parents and principals are accustomed to managing, schools are accustomed managing…”
She added, “In the early days, you would have never seen a school with air-condition. Now, there are many schools that have air-condition that the Ministry has stepped in to do that. So, it is a continuous process and as we build new schools, as we refurbish schools, these things are taken into consideration and teachers and principals, at the level of the school, do what they can to manage the heat because some days it may be very hot and some days it is not so hot, so they manage these things … and where the ministry’s input is required, as we can see, it has always been available.” .
Her comments came during a media briefing at her ministry’s Port-of-Spain headquarters, hours after a warning was issued by the T&T Meteorological Service of extremely hot conditions predominantly over T&T for the period September 15-29.
The Met Office said there is a high (80 per cent) probability that temperatures near 34.0°C or greater are expected “to continue roughly over the next two weeks across Trinidad. Warm-to-hot conditions near 32.5°C or greater are expected to occur across Tobago.”
It also warned that high temperatures can be hazardous to health, especially to the elderly, sick adults, and young children.
After the Met Office warning was issued, the Ministry of Education also sent out a release stating that it had taken note of the Hot Spell warning.
The ministry advised parents, teachers, and administrators “to take precautionary measures beyond those already being implemented, if required, to safeguard staff and students against the effects of these high temperatures”.
It said these measures may include but are not restricted to:
1. Ensuring students remain hydrated (students should be advised to drink cool water, not sweetened or carbonated beverages)
2. Utilising any available outdoor shaded spaces for class time where possible. (Adjustments to normal school operations may be required during this period)
3. Monitoring students’ exposure to direct sunlight
4. Vigilance in monitoring students and staff for signs of heat-related illness.
Meanwhile, an emergency meeting was also called in Tobago to put together immediate measures to help deal with the heat wave.
This was confirmed to the Guardian Media yesterday by T&T Registered Nurses Association president Idi Stuart, who said he was part of the meeting, hence his reason for travelling urgently across to Tobago.
Contacted yesterday, Stuart said during the emergency meeting, recommendations were sent to the THA Secretary for Health and Wellness indicating that “it was observed that there has been an increase in difficulties within secondary schools and that staff and students are unable to cope with the heat in Tobago.”
He, however, noted that he had no feedback as to what was taking place in Trinidad.
“But the THA in Tobago will be taking specific steps in advising schools, there will be specific recommendations to actively treating the number of schools of the difficulties being experienced. I cannot say at the moment what type of heat illnesses tops the list and I won’t assume,” Stuart said.
Asked if he had any personal recommendations on how employers and schools should deal with the issue, Stuart replied: “There should be the outfitting of cooling mechanisms, schools should have shorter class and school times, maybe siestas should be put in place where students and people can go home for the hottest part of the day and return when it gets cooler, like what most hot countries do, that might be something to look at.”
On whether nursing teams should be dispatched to schools, Stuart said the current arrangement involving nurses, which was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, should be refocused and extended in the schools.
“During the COVID-19, the Ministry of Education had a division where nurses were attached to where they were sent to schools to help manage outbreaks and advise principals. I think it may even be on the cards for this to be terminated soon but they should look at refocusing them on this issue. Realign the purpose of the unit,” Stuart said.
Efforts to reach the Secretary of the THA’s Division of Health, Wealth and Social Protection, Dr Faith B.Yisrael, for comment were unsuccessfull.
Meanwhile, chairman of the Association of Denominational Boards and retired chief education officer Sharon Mangroo, during a telephone interview, suggested that school principals form teams, including staff and parents, for advice.
“There is no simple fix to this. We need to do this together and look at long term solutions. We need to know how to arrange hours, operations and these teams will support principals’ decisions in the best interest,” Mangroo said.
On what can be done to improve cooling measures in schools, Mangroo suggested that air conditioning may not be the right thing to do because many schools are old and cannot take the additional electrical load.
“Our schools, some are old and some can be a little overcrowded and they’re not really built to take this kind of heat,” she said.
“We have to take school by school and work out agreements. Each school has to be investigated on its own merit and make decisions school by school, which is why I think it has to be up to the principal to determine what is necessary and then the principals will have to get some guidelines because, of course, if we finish school early, we will always have to be concerned with what happens to the children, then and you will still have children remaining on the compound and you still have to ensure their safety and still have to ensure that they’re well hydrated, that they not in conditions that they’re overheating so on.”
Side Bar
Measures to help beat the heat
The Ministry of Health yesterday issued precautionary measures to the public to help them protect against high temperatures.
The ministry reminded the public that very high temperatures (heated conditions) can be dangerous and advised them to take the necessary precautions to safeguard their health.
Stay Hydrated By:
* Eating fruits and vegetables (At least 2-4 servings of fruits daily and eating vegetables with every meal)
* Drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water daily
* Avoiding drinks with caffeine and alcohol
Protect Yourself from the Heat By:
* Avoiding strenuous exercise during the hottest times of the day (usually 10 am to 3 pm)
* Staying indoors or in shaded areas, when possible
* Taking frequent breaks or using hats and umbrellas while working outdoors
* Wearing loose-fitting, lightweight, light coloured clothing
* Wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 and above.
The public was also advised to be aware of the signs of heat stroke and or heat exhaustion:
* High body temperature (39 °C or higher)
* Cold, pale, and clammy skin
* Fast, weak pulse (heat exhaustion)
* Fast, strong pulse (heat stroke)
* Tiredness or weakness
* Headache
* Nausea or vomiting
* Muscle cramps
* Dizziness and confusion
* Fainting (passing out)
The ministry also advised citizens to remember to check on family, particularly the elderly and children, during the period, as very high temperatures can be dangerous to one’s health.