By Adriel, Christopher, Luis, Chinwe, Cynthia, and Kayla, Catholic Partnership Schools Healthy Courier | Heat is something that affects people all over the world, especially during the spring and summer months.
Even teachers are affected by the heat. Mrs. Culbertson, a middle school social studies teacher at St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral School, shared that she has experienced, “extreme sweating, lightheadedness, and dizziness,” because of heat.
Mr. Nickoloff, St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral’s physical education teacher said he was hiking when the medication he had taken caused dehydration.
Because of changes in the climate, temperatures are rising and heat waves are happening more often, according to the Harvard School of Public Health.
Hotter temperatures can be dangerous. They can lead to heat illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat stroke.
Health experts at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia say it’s important to find ways to keep cool during the warmer weather.
During warm weather, Mr. Nickoloff likes to walk his dog for the exercise it gives him and his dog. He said “it is peaceful, gives me time to reflect.” As a physical education teacher, he does not take students outside during gym class when the temperatures are hot.
When it is too hot outside, he suggests that you “sit in the shade and drink something cool.” He added that “if you are outside, be smart and stay hydrated. Dress in light clothing.” He also said to stay out of the sunlight when it is hot, if you can. If you are not able to stay in the shade, then be sure to wear a hat.
Mrs. Culbertson shared that she stays cool in hot weather by “wearing a lot of linen and light clothing, staying hydrated, and trying to be in cool air- conditioned places like malls and movie theaters.” She also said she “eats cooler foods like salads.”
Mrs. Culbertson said that the heat affects her work at school. She said that due to the heat, she drinks more water. Drinking more water keeps her hydrated and energized, she said.
Mrs. Culbertson said that even though she doesn’t know how to swim, she enjoys going to the beach when it’s warm outside. “The beach reminds me of my father,” she said.
Her father was a fisherman who used to take her to the beach every weekend.
Illustration by Jasmine, eighth grade, DePaul Healthy Trailblazer Journal.
