TEACHERS USE WBGT TO MANAGE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, KEEPING SAFETY IN MIND FOR STUDENTS

With the temperatures reaching extreme conditions, the Clinton Public School District is playing it cool when it comes to spending time outside.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association has implemented a mandate that all athletic and band programs utilize the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature reading when planning outdoor practices and rehearsals.

The WBGT is a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight taking into account humidity, wind speed and cloud coverage. If the WBGT measures 92 or above, no students should participate in outdoor activities.

Teachers at Clinton Park, Northside, Eastside and Lovett Elementary schools have also implemented the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature during scheduled recess.

“Our teachers have been paying attention each day to the WBGT readings,” Eastside Elementary principal Mandy Taylor said. “Just like the football coaches and band directors at the high school, we have started to use the Zeleus WBGT app during recess.”

Taylor said the playground is already equipped with several shade structures to combat the typical Mississippi heat, but new measures have been in place since the start of the school year to manage student health during the abnormal heatwave.

“We stress to students the importance of staying hydrated throughout the day, and we’ve been limiting our recess times to 15 minutes instead of 30.”

Taylor said that in typical Mississipip fashion, the heat is always a factor, but it won’t be around forever. “We can’t control the temperature, but we can control how we manage our outside time,” she said. “Once it cools off, we’ll return to recess as normal.”