Weather & Outdoor Play
This chart must be checked daily along with the Air Quality Index to determine if outdoor time is safe.
What is the Child Care Weather Watch Chart?
Red clusters of pimples or small blisters are signs of this mild heat illness.
What is heat rash? [Walks with...ren Policy | Word]
Sunscreen must have at least this SPF and offer both UVA and UVB protection.
What is SPF 15 or higher?
Children may go outdoors but require close observation during this weather condition color.
What is Condition Yellow?
This item must be checked every day to determine if outdoor activities should be modified due to heat, cold, wind, or air quality.
What is the Weather Chart.
Children go outdoors this many times daily when weather permits.
What are two times daily?
Painful cramps in the abdomen, arms, or legs indicate this heat‑related condition.
What are heat cramps?
Insect repellent may contain no more than this concentration of DEET.
What is 30%?
Infants younger than this age must not have sunscreen applied.
What is six months?
This type of insect repellent delivery method is not allowed because it increases inhalation risk and can drift onto unintended areas.
What are aerosol sprays?
This color‑coded condition means children should be monitored closely for signs of being too hot or too cold while outdoors.
What is code Yellow?
Headache, sweating, weakness, and dizziness are signs of this heat emergency.
What is heat exhaustion?
When applying sunscreen to multiple children, staff must follow this hygiene step between each child to prevent cross‑contamination.
What is washing their hands or changing gloves if required between each child?
This practice must occur in all weather conditions because it supports children’s ability to regulate body temperature. Staff must ensure this happens both indoors and outdoors.
What is providing continuous access to drinking water and reminding children to take regular water breaks?
According to NC child care rules, staff may not apply sunscreen, insect repellent, lotions, or other topical products unless this type of written instruction is provided by a parent or health professional.
What is written authorization with specific application instructions?
During outdoor play, a child becomes upset and asks to go back inside, while the rest of the group remains engaged. According to policy, outdoor play is still expected unless limited by safety guidelines. What should staff do in this situation?
What is provide appropriate support outdoors—such as offering a rest break in a shaded or calmer area—since children well enough to attend are expected to participate in outdoor play?
Hot, dry skin, confusion, or seizures mean a child may have this life‑threatening condition.
What is heat stroke?
Insect repellent may never be used on children under this age.
What is 2 months?
According to the Weather Chart guidance, older children may resist drinking water or claim they “aren’t hot,” but staff must take this action to ensure they maintain safe hydration levels during outdoor play.
What is reminding and encouraging children to take regular water breaks even when they don’t request it?
This heat‑related illness involves heavy sweating, dizziness, and weakness, and must be treated immediately by cooling the child and offering fluids.
What is heat exhaustion?
On hot days, staff must avoid this type of activity to prevent heat‑related illness.
What is vigorous exercise?
A child who has been active outdoors suddenly becomes pale, sweaty, and weak. They complain of dizziness and nausea. According to the Heat‑Related Illnesses guidance, staff must take these immediate steps to properly respond and prevent the condition from progressing into a medical emergency.
What is move the child to a cooler area, remove excess clothing, offer frequent sips of water, apply cool compresses, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or do not improve?
These combination products are prohibited because they pose safety concerns.
What are combined sunscreen/insect repellent products?
According to the Weather Chart guidance, this federal website is recommended for checking the Wind Chill and Heat Index to ensure safe outdoor planning.
What is the National Weather Service?
A parent sends in a new bottle of sunscreen but does not fill out the topical permission form. During outdoor time, the child becomes visibly uncomfortable in the sun, and the parent verbally told staff that sunscreen “is fine to use anytime.” According to policy, what must staff do?
What is decline to apply the sunscreen until written authorization with specific instructions is provided, because DCDEE prohibits applying any topical product without written parent permission?