Excessive Heat Warning and Odor Advisory cause concern for children’s safety
With an excessive heat warning and odor advisory in place this week, News Channel 3 looks into how local schools are taking extra precaution with their students in these conditions.
You can’t see it, but you can smell it.
With a mixture of odor and heat we asked one mother of two students at Saul Martinez Elementary School if she is concerned.
“Oh yeah of course,” Karen Deniz told News Channel 3 as she dropped off her kids at school on Wednesday. “My kids actually stay until 6 p.m. so they’re kind of here all day and I live a little closer to the Salton Sea and that odor it’s obvious that it’s there and you know my kids I send them with water because you never know,” she added.
We reached out to the Coachella Valley Unified School District to see exactly how they plan to keep students safe in these conditions. They released this statement to News Channel 3.
“At CVUSD, inclement weather procedures are in effect at all of our sites during extreme weather conditions. All schools have a plan for adjusting site activities to ensure student safety during extreme heat conditions. Students are kept indoors during recess and lunch, their physical activities are modified and monitored and they are encouraged to stay hydrated by drinking water. As always, our priority is student safety.”
As the school bell rand for dismissal, many parents picked up their students with umbrellas in hand to block out the sun.
“I’m a parent and I’m concerned,” Deniz said. “I’ve talked to them about it and they are doing stuff about it and they do listen to the parents,” she added.
We also asked her if the heat and odor affect has affected her children’s breathing.
“It has in the past and myself as well, but I know they are more prone to it,” she said.
South Coast Air Quality Management District has the odor advisory in place through Thursday.
The Salton Sea releases Hydrogen Sulfide gas, by natural processes, causing a smell like rotten eggs. An Odor Advisory gets put out during these times.
The Excessive Heat Warning is in effect until 8 p.m. tonight.
