Most of the country is experiencing the first blast of prolonged frigid temperatures. When extreme cold arrives, so do questions about cancelling outdoor recess, lunch or physical education.
The primary safety concern during extreme cold weather is the risk of frostbite. Frostbite is the freezing of skin and damage to underlying blood vessels due to exposure to the extreme cold. Frostbite occurs when the skin temperature reaches and stays at or below 23 °F degrees. Although students are rarely outdoors for an extended period of time, frostbite can occur to exposed skin within 20 – 30 minutes with modest wind and temperatures in the teens.
