School Safety
The Office of Safety and Operations is dedicated to providing a safe and healthy environment for the students and employees of the Fremont Union High School District. This mission is supported through periodic inspections of existing district facilities and careful review of all safety and emergency preparedness plans to ensure a school environment that promotes powerful teaching and learning.
- Staff Safety Resources
- Emergency Preparedness
- Parent & Community Resources
- Air Quality Guidelines
- Heat Risk Guidelines
- Sunnyvale Tip Now Program
Staff Safety Resources
- Keenan Safe Schools Training
- California Department of Education
- Science Safety Handbook
- Stryker Evacuation Chair Training
- Spare the Air
- Student Injury Form
- Incident Form
- Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)
- Heat Stress Plan
- Respiratory Protection Plan
- Safety Training Schedule for Custodians and Maintenance
- Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM)
- Globally Harmonized System (GHS)- Hazard Communication Program
Emergency Preparedness
- Ready.gov: Emergency preparation information from the Department of Homeland Security.
- FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency information and resources
- American Red Cross: American Red Cross preparedness information.
- DisabilityInfo.gov: Federal government information for disability related information and resources.
- PTA.Org: Parent resources on safety from the National Parent Teacher Association.
- Ready.gov for Pets: Emergency Preparation for Pets
Parent & Community Resources
AlertSCC is a powerful mass notification system that will be used to send emergency information and instructions to anyone who lives or works in Santa Clara County. AlertSCC will send messages to phone numbers included in the emergency 911 and 411 directory listings. In addition, by registering at AlertSCC.com you may provide additional contact information to receive messages on other devices.
What is 2-1-1 Santa Clara County?
2-1-1 is a free, non-emergency, confidential service that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Mandarin, and 140 other languages. For everyday needs and in times of crisis, 2-1-1 provides streamlined access to critical health and human services such as food, shelter, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention, employment assistance, and so much more. It also serves as a link for individuals seeking to volunteer, provide resources, or assist during a crisis in Santa Clara County.
Local City Disaster Information
OTHER RESOURCES
Air Quality Guidelines
AIR QUALITY GUIDELINES
The Fremont Union High School District monitors air quality closely and will take appropriate actions based on Air Quality Index (AQI) readings and forecasts from Airnow.gov.
What is the AQI?
Think of the AQI as a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. For example, an AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.
AQI values at or below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is unhealthy: at first for certain sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as AQI values get higher.
The AQI is divided into six categories. Each category corresponds to a different level of health concern. Each category also has a specific color. The color makes it easy for people to quickly determine whether air quality is reaching unhealthy levels in their communities.
FUHSD GUIDELINES FOR OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETICS
AQI RANGE | MONITORING LEVEL / ACTIONS |
0 to 70 | No monitoring or action required |
71 to 100 | Monitor closely - exercise caution for sensitive groups – notify Site Admin & Athletic Dir |
101 to 115 | Monitor and consider cancellations. Develop a cancellation plan in case a rise occurs. |
115 to 150 | Begin cancellations and/or move outdoor activities indoors – communication plan |
Above 150 | All outdoor and indoor activities may be cancelled – this includes all PE, Sports and other Activities |
Please keep in mind that AQI changes throughout the day. Spikes/drops can occur for one or more hours and variations occur based upon exact location. Once the AQI gets close to 100, forecasts and detailed mapping will be used to make decisions on cancellations. The guidelines above are not intended to be exact markers to determine district actions. However, they are general guidelines that will be used to determine the District's decisions on any cancelations or restrictions.
Heat Risk Guidelines
The Fremont Union High School District monitors heat risk closely and will take appropriate actions based on Heat Risk readings and forecasts from National Weather Service (NWS). Life threatening heat-related illness, also known as exertional heatstroke, can occur within the first 60 minutes of exertion and may be triggered without exposure to high ambient temperatures.3 Numerous factors can contribute to this including lack of acclimatization, lack of physical fitness, being overweight, taking medications, and other factors.
The Fremont Union High School District utilizes forecasts made using the NWS HeatRisk Prototype: https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/wrh/heatrisk/. The NWS HeatRisk Prototype is a color-numeric-based index that provides a forecast risk of heat-related impacts to occur over a 24-hour period. HeatRisk takes into consideration:
- How unusual the heat is for the time of the year
- The duration of the heat including both daytime and nighttime temperatures
- If those temperatures pose an elevated risk of heat-related impacts based on data from the CDC
The HeatRisk is divided into five categories (0-4). The higher the value, the greater the level of heat concern would be for that location and the higher the risk of heat-related impacts.
FUHSD GUIDELINES FOR OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES AND ATHLETICS:
HeatRisk | Monitoring and Actions |
Green 0 |
No monitoring or action required |
Yellow 1 |
Monitor – continue to hydrate |
Orange 2 |
Monitor Closely - exercise caution for sensitive groups – hydrate and use cooling strategies |
Red 3 |
Begin cancellations, postponements and/or move activities indoors – Notify School Admin, Athletic Directors and Coaches |
Magenta 4 | All outdoor and indoor activities cancelled – this includes all PE, Sports and other Activities |
Please keep in mind that Heat Risk changes throughout the day and spikes/drops can occur for one or more hours and variations occur based upon exact location. Once the AQI gets close to 100, forecasts and detailed mapping will be used to make decisions on cancellations.
WHAT OTHER PROACTIVE STEPS CAN BE TAKEN?
Administrators, coaches, or other organizers should take measures to make sure participants stay cool, stay hydrated, stay connected, and stay informed. Make sure water is available during outdoor activities, including water activities. Encourage water consumption. Evaluate current conditions regularly and make appropriate adjustments – for example, postpone or reschedule practices whenever possible to be held early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid times when heat is generally more severe.
Closely monitor participants and ask these questions:
- Are they drinking enough water?
- Do they have access to air conditioning?
- Do they need help keeping cool?
- Are they exhibiting signs and symptoms of heat-related illness (see further information below)?
Remind participants:
- Getting too hot can make them sick.
- Limit their outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest.
- Pace their activity. Start activities slowly and pick up the pace gradually.
- Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until they’re thirsty to drink more. Muscle cramping may be an early sign of heat-related illness.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
Everyone should take these steps to prevent heat-related illnesses, injuries, and death during hot weather:
- Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as you can.
- Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.
- Pace yourself.
- Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
- Check on other participants or teammates and have someone do the same for you.
- Check the local news for health and safety updates.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESS (HRI)
- Muscle cramping
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Weakness
- Hot and wet or dry skin
- Flushed face
- Rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure
- Hyperventilation
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Behavioral/cognitive changes (confusion, irritability, aggressiveness, hysteria, emotional instability, impaired judgement, inappropriate behavior)
- Drowsiness, loss of consciousness
- Staggering, disorientation
- Difficult speaking, slurred speech
- Seizures
These are signs of the most severe form of heat-related illness, heat stroke, which is life threatening and requires immediate attention, including cooling. Heat stroke symptoms include an elevated body temperature of 104°F or greater.
The California Interscholastic Federation provides a free “Heat Illness Prevention” training as well as web pages outlining the identification and treatment of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat syncope, exertional hyponatremia, and heat cramps. See: Heat Illness - California Interscholastic Federation
For more information on signs, symptoms, and how to treat heat-related illness, please see here: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html
TREATMENT OF EXERTIONAL HEAT STROKE
Treatment must be provided immediately and includes:
- Removal of all equipment and excess clothing, cooling the athlete as quickly as possible within 30 minutes via whole body ice water immersion (place them in a tub with ice and water approximately 35–58°F).
- Stir water and add ice throughout cooling process.
- Maintain airway, breathing and circulation.
- ·After cooling has been initiated, activate emergency medical system by calling 911.
- Monitor vital signs such as core temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and Central Nervous System status.
- Cease cooling when core temperature reaches 101–102°F (38.3–38.9°C).
WHAT FACTORS INCREASE THE RISK OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESS (HRI)?
Students’ personal factors. Age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease5, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use all can play a role in whether a person can cool off enough in very hot weather.
Exertion level. Even young and healthy people can get sick from the heat if they participate in strenuous6 physical activities such as Physical Education during hot weather without gradually acclimatizing to hot conditions over a period of 1–2 weeks.
High humidity. When the humidity is high, sweat won’t evaporate as quickly. Evaporation of sweat is the main way the body can cool itself.
*The NWS defines “heat sensitive groups” as:
- the elderly and the very young;
- those on certain medications and/or those with preexisting conditions which make them more sensitive to heat;
- those working outdoors – especially new workers, temporary workers, or those returning to work after a week or more off;
- those exercising or doing strenuous activities outdoor during the heat of the day – especially those not used to the level of heat expected, those who are not drinking enough fluids, or those new to that type of activity;
- those without a reliable source of cooling and/or hydration;
- those not acclimated to the level of heat expected – especially those who are new to a much warmer climate.
REFERENCES / RESOURCES
Heat Stress (CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Heat-Related Illness in Sports and Exercise (Nichols 2014)
Preventing and Treating Heat Illness in Young Athletes (Children’s Hospital of Colorado) MHSAA Heat and Humidity Policy
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature vs Heat Index (weather.gov)
Regional heat safety thresholds for athletics in the contiguous United States (uconn.edu) Excessive Heat - School Disaster and Emergency Management (CA Dept of Education) Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness | Natural Disasters and Severe Weather | CDC Cooling Centers | California Governor's Office of Emergency Management
Heat Illness - California Interscholastic Federation (cifstate.org) Cal/OHSA / California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR):
99Calor – Cal/OSHA will send any employer free materials: http://99calor.org/english.html
Heat illness prevention page: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/heatillnessinfo.html
DIR’s regulation: Heat Illness Prevention in Outdoor Places of Employment: https://www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/3395.html
FURTHER READING:
Heat risk and young athletes — rising temperatures lead to lawsuits and environmental injustice (theconversation.com)
Sunnyvale Tip Now Program
Now you can provide important crime information to the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety using your cell phone or PDA device. The TipNow text and email messaging system sends an anonymous messages to police investigators anytime day or night. Simply text or email your information to SVTIP@tipnow.org. You can tell us about a crime you may have witnessed or provide information about non-emergency suspicious activity that, in the future, could lead to a human caused emergency.