Safe and healthy schools

• The BC Centre for Disease Control’s Public Health Communicable Disease Guidance for K-12 School Settings provides guidance for educators, administrators, and support staff at public, independent, and First Nations Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) schools of what communicable disease prevention measures should be implemented to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, including COVID-19.
• The Ministry of Education and Child Care’s Provincial Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings (PDF) | Directives provinciales pour le système d'éducation en matière de maladies transmissibles (PDF)  build on the BCCDC guidance to outline the principles and considerations for boards of education, independent school authorities and schools for communicable disease prevention planning. The guidelines address topics including health awareness, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting, ventilation and masks.

Ensure student safety by working with parents and guardians to tailor plans for students with specific medical needs. Also find out how to recognize key symptoms and learn what to do in an emergency.

• Diabetes
• Anaphylaxis
• Pandemic Response Framework (PDF)
• Seizure Action Plan – Learn about seizure care in the school setting, including the Ministry of Health’s newly developed seizure rescue intervention resources for K–12 students, on the BC Children’s Hospital website.

• Heat events, also known as heatwaves, are a series of days that are hotter than normal temperatures for the region. As the climate changes, heat events will become more frequent, longer and hotter in B.C.
• Schools can plan for heat events to support the safety and comfort of students and staff, and take actions like:
  • Closing shutters/blinds on south-facing windows.
  • Where available, utilizing air-conditioning systems for cooling.
  • Opening windows for cross-ventilation (if no air-conditioning system is available).
  • Using directional fans for airflow.
  • Using the coolest spaces within the school.
  • Ensuring students and staff have access to, and are drinking water throughout the day.
  • Adapting or pausing activities that generate heat (like moderate or vigorous physical activity).
  • If outside, seeking shaded and breezier areas.
  • Encourage sun safety when outside including applying sunscreen and wearing hats, sunglasses, and light-weight clothing in breathable materials.
  • Staff should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.
  • Sharing information with their school communities about expected heat events, and what precautions can be taken at home. Information on preparing for heat events is available from the BC Centre for Disease Control.
• Schools also work with their local regional health authority and use information from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness website to determine what actions to take.   
• Schools should be aware of students who may need more attention during heat events, including:
  • Students with disabilities or diverse abilities, with heightened attention to students who  use non-verbal communication or experience barriers to communicate.
  • Students with physical disabilities, with heightened attention to students who use mobility devices such as a wheelchair or other device that traps body heat.
  • Students with ADHD, depression, or similar, with heightened attention to students who use medications that can affect thermoregulation (e.g., Ritalin).
  • Students who use substances

• The Ministry continues to work with school districts to determine opportunities for ensuring schools and other district facilities are prepared for heat events.

Sources:

• BCCDC Preparing for Heat Events
• EMBC: Be prepared for extreme heat and drought

The BC School Food Toolkit website is filled with tools and resources to support schools to create and maintain nutritious and supportive school food environments. Find out more at BC School Food Toolkit.

• Safe, Caring and Orderly Schools: A Guide (PDF)
• Student Safety Teaching Resources
• Guidelines for maintaining order on school property
• Plan for recovering from all types of emergencies
• Coordinating student safety during a catastrophic earthquake (PDF)

erase is all about building safe and caring school communities. This includes empowering students, parents, educators and the community partners who support them to get help with challenges, report concerns to schools, and learn about complex issues facing students