RBUSD Extreme Weather & Air Quality Guidelines

Keeping Students Safe During Heat, Poor Air Quality, and Other Extreme Weather

The health and safety of our students and staff is the Redondo Beach Unified School District's highest priority. California law requires all school districts to maintain protocols for responding to extreme weather conditions that may impact student health and safety. RBUSD continuously monitors local weather conditions, heat risk, air quality, and other environmental hazards to determine whether outdoor activities should be modified or moved indoors. RBUSD is committed to providing safe, healthy learning environments for every student. We will continue to monitor weather and air quality conditions throughout the year and make informed decisions that prioritize student health and safety.

🌡️ Extreme Heat

RBUSD follows guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Department of Education (CDE), and National Weather Service when evaluating outdoor activities.

During periods of elevated heat, schools may:

✅ Increase student hydration opportunities

✅ Encourage frequent water breaks

✅ Increase access to shaded areas

✅ Shorten or modify outdoor activities

✅ Move Physical Education, recess, lunch, athletics, or other activities indoors when appropriate

✅ Reschedule strenuous activities to cooler times of the day

🌡️ California Heat Risk Levels

Heat Risk	What It Means	School Response
🟢 Little to None	Normal conditions	Regular outdoor activities
🟡 Minor	Increased caution	Encourage hydration and shade
🟠 Moderate	Some students may be affected	Modify strenuous outdoor activities as needed
🔴 Major	High risk for heat illness	Cancel or move strenuous outdoor activities indoors
🟣 Extreme	Dangerous conditions	Outdoor activities canceled

Students with medical conditions, younger children, and those sensitive to heat may require additional precautions.

🌬️ Air Quality

RBUSD monitors local air quality using the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When air quality deteriorates due to wildfire smoke, pollution, or other environmental conditions, outdoor activities may be modified.

🌫️ Air Quality Index (AQI)

AQI	Air Quality	School Response
🟢 0–50	Good	Outdoor activities continue as normal
🟡 51–100	Moderate	Outdoor activities continue; sensitive students may reduce strenuous activity
🟠 101–150	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Outdoor activity limited for students with asthma or other respiratory conditions
🔴 151–200	Unhealthy	Outdoor activities restricted or moved indoors
🟣 201+	Very Unhealthy / Hazardous	Outdoor activities canceled; students remain indoors whenever possible

⛈️ Other Weather Conditions

RBUSD also monitors for:

⚡ Lightning
🌧️ Heavy rain
🌊 Flooding
💨 High winds
🌫️ Wildfire smoke
🚨 Other hazardous environmental conditions

Outdoor activities may be delayed, modified, relocated, or canceled whenever conditions present a safety concern.

🩺 Student Safety

Staff are trained to recognize signs of weather-related illness, including:

☀️ Heat exhaustion
☀️ Heat stroke
😮‍💨 Respiratory distress
💧 Dehydration

Students exhibiting symptoms will receive immediate assistance, and parents/guardians will be contacted as appropriate.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How Families Can Help

Families can support student safety by:

Sending a refillable water bottle each day.
Dressing students appropriately for the weather.
Informing the school of asthma, respiratory conditions, or other medical concerns.
Ensuring students have prescribed medications available at school when needed (such as inhalers).
Monitoring district communications during periods of extreme weather.

📢 How RBUSD Makes Decisions

District and school administrators regularly monitor:

National Weather Service forecasts
California Department of Public Health guidance
South Coast AQMD Air Quality Index
Local emergency management information
Conditions at individual school sites

Based on these factors, schools may:

Modify recess or lunch
Adjust Physical Education
Move activities indoors
Delay or cancel outdoor events
Communicate schedule changes to families as needed.