Taking your children to and from school may be a perfectly normal part of your day. However, when the warmer weather comes around, or a heatwave strikes, you may find this a little bit harder to manage. There are ways that you can make this daily journey more pleasant for yourself and your children, by putting health first and keeping some of the dangers of heat in mind. At the same time, this may also help you to avoid tantrums or arguments between you all! Win-win for mom! Here are our top tips for school drop off in the blistering Florida heat.
Opt for some sunglasses
The glare of the sun isnโt just a nuisance when outside. It could create its own hazard. If you canโt see properly, you may not be able to tell if something is on the road ahead. This can be dangerous when both walking or driving, so opting for a pair of womens sunglasses with UV protection can keep your eyes safe and help you to see as clearly as possible.
This could keep you and your children safer, especially if there is a lot of traffic. You may also want to purchase sunglasses for the kids too to protect their eyes from burning and the glare. When doing so, you might want to look for those that have guaranteed UVA and UVB filtration within the lenses.ย
Get everyone out of the car
It can be tempting to leave your younger children or dogs in the car when you go to drop off or pick up the other children. Many parents might feel it is alright as they may only be a couple of minutes. However, especially in extreme heat, this could lead to significant illness or even death. In fact, the statistics of heatstroke deaths in the United States show that a child may die in a vehicle every 10 days.
While a temperature of 104 could lead to heat stroke, 107 can certainly be fatal. Some states may also have laws regarding leaving children in the car. To prevent suffering, illness, and even legal recourse, it is always a better idea to get everyone out of the car. The only exception may be if there is another adult present who can remain in the car with the children, and the air conditioning is left on.
Florida state law says that no child under the age of 6 years old may be left in a vehicle unattended; for more than 15 minutes or if the vehicle is running.
Practice patience
Along with the health and safety issues that come with a hot day, you may notice that you or your children are that much more irritable. This may be worse if it is uncomfortably hot out. Therefore, you may want to try and remain patient with one another when going to and from school.
That being said, that doesnโt mean you need to put up with crankiness and attitudes! (hello 5 year old, I’m talking to you!) Calmly explaining to your child that everyone is suffering and that, while you understand, you wonโt tolerate disrespect can achieve more results than responding aggressively- a reminded I have to give myself regularly.
Keeping hydrated and trying to cool off, such as by sticking to the shade, could also assist with these negative emotions. Pack the kids water bottles for school daily to help them fend off the heat while they are there.
While the warmer weather can be enjoyable, it may also pose issues when you try to get the kids out the door to school. Putting a few plans into place, and practicing safety in the heat, could help everyone feel better and get through the Florida heat.
