Schools Directed to Follow Heatwave, Storm Preparedness SOPs Across Kashmir
DSEK Issues Guidelines for Schools Amid Heatwave in Kashmir
SRINAGAR, May 23 (JKNS) – In response to the ongoing heatwave and frequent afternoon storms across the Kashmir Division, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has issued a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for immediate implementation in all government and recognised private schools.
According to the circular obtained by JKNS, DSEK emphasised that due to the rising temperatures and regular stormy weather in the afternoons, there is a pressing need to adopt safety measures to protect students and staff.
The circular highlights that ensuring the health and safety of students is a top priority, and proactive steps must be taken to minimise risks caused by the current extreme weather conditions.
Morning assembly should be kept brief and conducted in a shaded area or indoors as far as possible. Emphasis should be on essential announcements rather than prolonged drills or speeches. All outdoor games, sports activities, and physical education classes shall be conducted before 10:30 AM. This includes any form of recess or break period where students might be inclined to play outdoors, it reads.
If outdoor activities are absolutely necessary, they must be conducted before 10:30 AM and with the following precautions. Frequent and mandatory hydration breaks must be provided every 15–20 minutes. Schools must ensure the availability of potable drinking water at multiple accessible points, it reads.
Activities should be conducted in shaded areas as far as possible. Strict supervision by physical education teachers and other staff is essential to monitor students for signs of heat stress (dizziness, nausea, excessive sweating, headache, fatigue), it reads. The intensity and duration of physical activity must be significantly reduced. Focus should be on less strenuous activities and circular reads.
Schools must devise alternative indoor activities for physical education and games, such as indoor board games, light stretching exercises in well-ventilated classrooms or halls, creative arts and crafts, and educational games and quizzes, it reads.
Schools must ensure a continuous and adequate supply of clean, potable drinking water at all times. Water coolers must be functional and regularly cleaned. Students should be encouraged to carry their own water bottles and refill them frequently. Teachers should periodically remind students to drink water. Hydration breaks of 10 minutes must be mandatorily provided after every class/period, it reads.
Classrooms must be adequately ventilated. All fans should be in working order. School buses/vans must install multiple small fans for enhanced cooling and ventilation. School buses/vans must be parked in shaded areas and parking sheds, wherever possible. Curtains or blinds should be used to block direct sunlight. Wherever possible, air coolers may be considered for common areas or sick rooms, circular reads.
The school’s first aid kit must be well-stocked with necessary medicines for heat-related illnesses (e.g., ORS packets). A designated staff member (preferably with basic first aid training) should be available to attend to any student exhibiting signs of heat stress. Schools must have a plan for emergency evacuation to the nearest medical facility if a student’s condition deteriorates. Contact numbers of parents/guardians and local medical services must be readily available.
Teachers should sensitise students about the dangers of heatstroke and dehydration. Information on preventive measures should be displayed on school notice boards/through posters. Parents should be informed about the revised timings and safety measures through school circulars/messages, it reads.
Before dispersal, schools must ensure that all outdoor structures, hoardings, temporary sheds, and lightweight objects are properly secured or removed to prevent them from becoming projectiles in strong winds. All windows and doors in classrooms and school buildings must be securely latched before students and staff leave the premises, it reads.
The Directorate has underlined the urgency and seriousness of the matter, stating that the SOPs must be implemented with immediate effect and without exception to ensure the safety of school communities across Kashmir, reads the order.
Earlier, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir changed school timing amid prevailing heatwave conditions across Kashmir Valley, in which timing for schools falling within Srinagar Municipality limits has been fixed from 8:30am to 2:30pm. (JKNS)
