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Acclimatization
Use caution during sudden, prolonged or record-breaking heat. Most people's bodies cannot cope with the increased heat exposure in these scenarios, especially youth in typically cooler places, like coastal areas.
Using the HeatRisk Tool
To understand if it's safe for youth to play in your area, check the National Weather Service (NWS) HeatRisk Tool, English or the NWS HeatRisk Tool, Spanish. The NWS HeatRisk tool provides a seven-day forecast of the potential heat risk and is a better indicator than using temperature alone. It accounts for how unusual the heat is for your location and time of the year, the heat's duration and humidity.
Use the CDPH Heat Risk Grid, English (PDF) or the CDPH Heat Risk Grid, Spanish (PDF) to understand what each risk level means, who is at risk and what general actions to take.
Safer to Play
HeatRisk Level: Little to None Green 0, Minor Yellow - 1, and Moderate Orange - 2
Actions to Take: Outdoor and air-conditioned indoor activities and sporting events are safer to participate in. Actions of increasing hydration and shade, and decreasing time spent in the sun during the warmest part of the day should still be practiced.
Unsafe to Play
HeatRisk Level: Major Red - 3 
Actions to Take: Cancel all activities and sporting events that are outdoor or are in an enclosed space that lack a cooling system during the heat of the day, and
- Reschedule to a cool time of the day or a different day, or
- Move to alternative activities in an air-conditioned or cooled indoor environment.
HeatRisk Level: Extreme Magenta - 4 
Actions to Take: Cancel all activities and sporting events that are outdoor or are in an enclosed space that lacks a cooling system, and
- Reschedule to a different day, or
- Move to alternative activities in an air-conditioned or cooled indoor environment.
Cancel all sporting events if the weather is unclear or uncertain.
Using CalHeatScore
CalHeatScore ranks heat waves from 0 to 4 and helps California communities understand heat in their local context and how to keep people safe. It can be used alongside the HeatRisk tool for additional information. CalHeatScore can help users:
- Understand their zip code's heat history
- Learn who is most heat sensitive through sociodemographic information
- Find local cooling centers
Taking Action
Heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable. School staff, coaches and parents/caregivers are responsible for keeping youth safe from extreme heat.
Try these tips for keeping youth hydrated!
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Help youth stay cool, stay hydrated, stay connected and stay informed.
- Encourage hydration and regular breaks in the shade if possible. Ask the students and youth athletes how they're feeling.
- Install mist stations near sports fields and play areas if possible.
- Make sure water is available during outdoor activities, including water sports.
- Remind youth to wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing, use ice packs or wet towels to cool down, and use and reapply sunscreen often.
- Check temperature conditions regularly. Cancel or modify events as needed.
- Raise awareness by sharing heat and youth sports social media posts on your accounts.
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Per the California education code, schools are required to create extreme weather safety protocols. See this example of Michigan's Model Policy for Managing Heat and Humidity.
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Lead by example
Protect yourself from the heat so youth learn to do the same. Even if you’re not being physically active, long periods in the sun, like sitting in unshaded bleachers or coaching from the sideline, can lead to classic heat stroke. This happens when the body passively overheats when exposed to high temperatures and can’t cool down. Stay hydrated, wear a wide‑brim hat and take breaks in the shade, so you can stay healthy and keep cheering or coaching safely!
The following workplace resources help prevent heat-related illness for school staff and coaches.
Preparing for the Future
Emergency Action Plan
Schools and organizations hosting athletic programs or recreational activities should proactively create an emergency action plan for extreme heat. Prepare by using the following resources:
Built Environment and Nature-Based Solutions
Schools can help reduce heat exposure on campus through engineered and nature-based solutions. Adapted from the Protecting Californians with Heat-Resilient Schools policy brief (PDF), examples include:
- Upgrade school exteriors (e.g., insulation, double-paned windows, shading, air sealing) and pair with health and safety fixes like lead, mold and asbestos remediation
- Install cool roofs on school buildings
- Increase greenery and tree canopy to shade schoolyards
- Add outdoor shade structures, such as shade sails over playgrounds and other outdoor common areas
- Replace asphalt with cool pavements, permeable surfaces and natural ground cover like gardens
- Avoid artificial turf or shade existing artificial turf fields, which get hotter than grass and can increase risk of heat-related illness, burns and blisters
- Install or upgrade cooling equipment (e.g., air conditioners, heat pumps), prioritizing energy-efficient options
Impacts on Air Quality
Extreme heat can lead to increased levels of a harmful air pollutant called ozone. Hotter temperatures and drought conditions can also increase wildfire risk. Wildfire smoke can severely impact air quality locally and even hundreds to thousands of miles away. Air pollution and wildfire smoke are a danger to young developing lungs, worsen asthma and can cause other health problems.
Use the Air Quality Index (AQI) to know when air quality is unhealthy and how to respond, and review the California Department of Education's Guidelines for Schools and Wildfire Smoke for additional guidance.
Resources