WEATHER ADVISORY

Dear IPE Families,

 

As you may know, the National Weather Service has announced an Extreme Heat Warning for Chicago beginning Monday, June 29 at 12 p.m. through Wednesday, July 1 at 10 p.m. IPE is working hand-in-hand with all city partners including the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) to keep students and staff healthy, safe, and comfortable.

 

Per IPE policy on extreme heat, all summer programming, including EHS and camp summer programming, will be held inside Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week to ensure the safety of students and staff.

 

IPE Procedures and Guidance for Extreme Heat

As a reminder, all IPE classrooms are equipped with air conditioning, and the IPE facilities team will be working to fix any air conditioning systems that may encounter issues this week.

 

We recommend students stay hydrated and bring full water bottles to summer programs. Opportunities to refill water will be provided throughout the day.

 

We also want to let you know that IPE has a heat action plan for situations like this, and school leaders will take measures to ensure students are healthy, safe and comfortable this week. 

 

Our plan includes the following steps:

• Ensure that staff and students remain sufficiently hydrated

• Ensure that all water fountains are in working order.

• Encourage and allow students to bring full water bottles to school and provide them with opportunities to refill them.

• Monitor students taking particular medications to ensure proper hydration.

• Keep rooms cool

  • Draw shades in rooms to keep sunlight out.

  • Keep air circulating by opening windows and doors and by using fans.

  • Turn off overhead lights, computers and appliances when not required for instruction.

  • Move classes from rooms exposed to sunlight to auditoriums, interior or lower-level rooms.

 

Health and Safety Information

We also want to provide you with this information from the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications in the event of extreme heat:

• Drink plenty of water

• Avoid going outside

• Keep electric lights off or turned down

• Minimize use of your oven and stove

• Wear loose, light, cotton clothing

• Don’t leave people or pets in a closed car, even for a few minutes

• Check on family, friends, and neighbors

 

Additional guidelines for older adults (65+), infants and children, those with chronic conditions, those who are pregnant, and others can be found on the CDC website here.

 

For a map of cooling centers across the city, please click here.

 

For a printable list of cooling centers by neighborhood, please click here.

 

For more information, read the full heat extreme heat warning from the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) here.

 

Be on the lookout for symptoms of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

• Heat Exhaustion Symptoms:

• Heavy sweating

• Cold, pale, and clammy skin

• Fast, weak pulse

• Nausea or vomiting

• Muscle cramps

• Tiredness or weakness

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Fainting (passing out)

 

What to do:

• Move to a cool place

• Loosen your clothes

• Put cool, wet cloths on your body

• Sip water

 

Get medical help right away if:

• You are throwing up

• Your symptoms get worse

• Your symptoms last longer than 1 hour

 

Heat Stroke Symptoms:

• High body temperature (103°F or higher)

• Hot, red, dry, or damp skin

• Fast, strong pulse

• Headache

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Confusion

• Losing consciousness (passing out)

 

What to do:

• Call 911 right away, heat stroke is a medical emergency

• Move the person to a cooler place

• Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath

• Do not give the person anything to drink

 

Thank you for your attention to this important message. Please take precautions to keep yourselves and your families safe and healthy this week.