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HeatRisk Activity Decision Matrices

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These HeatRisk Activity Decision Matrices provide role-specific guidance for implementing the District's Extreme Heat Safety and Outdoor Activity Guidelines. Staff shall use the National Weather Service (NWS) HeatRisk Forecast as the primary decision-making tool when planning, supervising, modifying, relocating, or canceling outdoor activities.

The Superintendent or designee may implement additional restrictions whenever conditions present an imminent risk to the health, safety, or well-being of students, staff, or visitors.

NWS HeatRisk Forecast: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/

Quick Reference Summary

Yard Duty Staff

  • Levels 0-1
    • Normal supervision
  • Level 2
    • More hydration and shade
  • Level 3
    • Reduce vigorous play
  • Level 4
    • Follow indoor/restricted recess procedures

MPAS/Extended Learning

  • Levels 0-1
    • Normal activities
  • Level 2
    • Reduce intensity
    Level 3
    • Significant modifications
    Level 4
    • Relocate or cancel strenuous activities

Classroom Teachers

  • Levels 0-1
    • Outdoor activities allowed
  • Level 2
    • Modify activities
  • Level 3
    • Move strenuous activities indoors
  • Level 4
    • Relocate or cancel outdoor activities

PE Teachers/Athletics

  • Levels 0-1
    • Normal activities
  • Level 2
    • Reduce intensity and duration
  • Level 3
    • Eliminate conditioning and move indoors when feasible
  • Level 4
    • Cancel or relocate all strenuous outdoor activities

Yard Duty

This matrix applies to:

  • Yard Duty
  • Lunch Monitors

Responsibilities:

  • Monitor students for signs of heat illness.
  • Encourage hydration throughout recess and lunch periods.
  • Direct students to shaded areas when necessary.
  • Notify administration or the health office of any concerns.
  • Request immediate assistance when a student exhibits symptoms of heat illness.
     

Required Actions for HeatRisk Levels

  • Green – 0 (Little Risk)
    • Normal outdoor supervision.
    • Encourage hydration.
  • Yellow – 1 (Minor Risk)
    • Encourage students to drink water.
    • Monitor for signs of heat discomfort.
  • Orange – 2 (Moderate Risk)
    • Encourage frequent water breaks.
    • Promote use of shaded areas.
    • Limit highly vigorous student-led activities when practical.
  • Red – 3 (Major Risk)
    • Encourage students to remain in shaded areas.
    • Reduce vigorous running and physically demanding games.
    • Notify administration if students appear distressed by heat.
  • Magenta – 4 (Extreme Risk)
    • Follow administrator direction regarding modified recess schedules, indoor recess, or restricted outdoor activities.
    • Encourage students to remain in shaded areas at all times.

Classroom Teachers

This matrix applies to:

  • Classroom Teachers
  • Intervention Teachers
  • Resource Teachers
  • Specialists conducting outdoor instruction

Responsibilities:

  • Ensure students have access to water.
  • Monitor students for heat-related symptoms.
  • Utilize indoor alternatives when appropriate.
  • Follow administrator directives regarding outdoor activities.
  • Report heat-related incidents immediately.

Required Actions for HeatRisk Levels

  • Green – 0 (Little Risk)
    • Outdoor activities may proceed as planned.
  • Yellow – 1 (Minor Risk)
    • Encourage hydration and provide periodic rest breaks.
  • Orange – 2 (Moderate Risk)
    • Increase water breaks.
    • Reduce strenuous activities.
    • Utilize shaded areas whenever available.
  • Red – 3 (Major Risk)
    • Move strenuous activities indoors whenever feasible.
    • Consider indoor alternatives for outdoor instruction and activities.
  • Magenta – 4 (Extreme Risk)
    • Cancel or relocate outdoor activities to indoor spaces.
    • Conduct only low-exertion activities if outdoor access is necessary.

MPAS Programs and ELO-P Staff

This matrix applies to:

  • Mt. Pleasant After School (MPAS) Program Staff
  • Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) Staff

Responsibilities:

  • Review HeatRisk information provided by the site.
  • Ensure continuous access to drinking water.
  • Provide recovery periods in shaded or cooled locations.
  • Monitor participants for signs of heat illness.
  • Coordinate activity modifications with administration.

Required Actions for HeatRisk Levels

  • Green – 0 (Little Risk)
    • Activities may proceed as scheduled.
  • Yellow – 1 (Minor Risk)
    • Increase hydration opportunities and monitor students closely.
  • Orange – 2 (Moderate Risk)
    • Increase water and recovery breaks.
    • Reduce activity intensity and duration as appropriate.
    • Utilize shaded areas whenever possible.
  • Red – 3 (Major Risk)
    • Significant modifications required.
    • Move strenuous activities indoors whenever feasible.
    • Reduce physical exertion and increase cooling periods.
  • Magenta – 4 (Extreme Risk)
    • Cancel or relocate strenuous outdoor activities.
    • Utilize indoor facilities or alternative activities.

PE Teachers and After-School Sports Coordinators

This matrix applies to:

  • Physical Education (PE) Teachers
  • Coaches

Responsibilities:

  • Review the NWS HeatRisk Forecast prior to activities.
  • Ensure unrestricted access to water.
  • Provide scheduled hydration opportunities.
  • Utilize shade and cooling areas during breaks.
  • Modify activities when students exhibit signs of heat stress.
  • Follow all site and district heat safety directives.

Because these activities often involve moderate to vigorous physical exertion, additional precautions are required during elevated HeatRisk conditions.

Students shall be monitored for:

  • Excessive fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Muscle cramps
  • Excessive sweating
  • Altered behavior or confusion

Any student displaying symptoms of heat illness shall be removed from activity immediately and evaluated according to district health procedures.

Emergency Response:

  1. If a student exhibits signs of heat stroke, including confusion, collapse, loss of consciousness, seizures, or other serious symptoms, call 911 immediately.
  2. Begin rapid cooling measures.
  3. Notify the site administrator and health office.
  4. Contact the parent/guardian as soon as possible.
  5. Do not delay emergency medical treatment.

Additional Athletic Restrictions

The Athletic Coordinator, Site Administrator, Superintendent, or designee may impose additional restrictions, postpone events, relocate activities, or cancel practices whenever conditions are deemed unsafe, regardless of the HeatRisk level.

Student and staff safety shall take precedence over practice schedules, competitions, and program activities.

Required Actions for HeatRisk Levels

  • Green – 0 (Little Risk)
    • PE
      • Activities may proceed as planned.
      • Encourage hydration.
    • After School
      • Activities may proceed as planned.
      • Encourage hydration and routine breaks.
  • Yellow – 1 (Minor Risk)
    • PE
      • Activities may continue.
      • Schedule hydration breaks and monitor students.
    • After School
      • Activities may continue.
      • Increase hydration opportunities and monitor participants closely.
  • Orange – 2 (Moderate Risk)
    • PE
      • Modify activities as needed.
      • Reduce prolonged vigorous activity.
      • Increase water and shade breaks.
    • After School
      • Reduce intensity and duration of practices.
      • Increase recovery periods. Utilize shaded areas whenever possible.
  • Red – 3 (Major Risk)
    • PE
      • Move vigorous activities indoors whenever feasible.
      • Substitute low- to moderate-intensity activities.
      • Increase hydration and recovery periods.
    • After School
      • Significant modifications required.
      • Eliminate conditioning drills, endurance training, prolonged running, and high-intensity activities.
      • Relocate activities indoors whenever feasible.
  • Magenta – 4 (Extreme Risk)
    • PE
      • Cancel or relocate outdoor PE activities.
      • Conduct indoor instructional activities in cooled environments.
    • After School
      • Cancel or relocate all strenuous outdoor athletic activities.
      • No conditioning, endurance training, scrimmages, or competitions outdoors.
      • Reschedule or move activities indoors.