Schools urged to cancel 'potentially dangerous' sports days amid extreme heat

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Teachers’ leaders said schools should consider cancelling sports day events to protect pupils and staff while a heatwave warning is in place next week.

The Met Office has issued an amber warning of 'extreme heat' from Sunday, July 17, to Tuesday, July 19, with temperatures expected to climb to 34C in Greater Manchester and 35C in the South East.

The Met Office said: “Population-wide adverse health effects are likely to be experienced, not limited to those most vulnerable to extreme heat, leading to potential serious illness or danger to life.” Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said the weather will make it “potentially dangerous” for youngsters to take part in physical activity in the sun.

She said children taking part in vigorous physical activity over the coming days are at “risk of heat exhaustion and even heat stroke.” Headteachers will be “checking the local weather forecast and using their professional judgment to cancel or reschedule any activities involving strenuous exercise” for the protection of children and staff. READ MORE: United Utilities 'not considering' hose pipe ban despite region's reservoirs being nearly half-empty James Bowen, policy director for school leaders’ union NAHT, said school leaders will be “thinking carefully” about how to keep pupils and staff as “safe and as comfortable as possible” as temperatures rise.