Hot classrooms welcome students amidst regional drought and recent heatwave
Students are returning to class amidst regional drought and heat lingering from a major heatwave
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) - As the Black Hills continues to deal with drought and the effects of a late-summer heat wave, many students are heading back to classrooms without air conditioning.
Health experts say the heat is doing more than making kids uncomfortable — it’s impeding their brain power, acting as a biological roadblock to learning. This can include irritability, lethargy, dehydration and poor academic performance.
“I think what we should do is that we should have classrooms that have a good environment for learning—right? Let’s start there,” said Dr. Elizabeth Farnsworth, a pediatrician with Sanford Health, “If you are in a situation where you don’t really have much of a choice; some fans getting air around to everybody—Make sure the kids are drinking at least every 15 to 20 minutes.”
Many schools across the area, especially those on reservations, have been letting students out early because of the heat.
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