The Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday, 28 June 2026 released a comprehensive heat action plan for schools across the state, issuing formal guidelines to help teachers protect students from extreme heat, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. The move comes as heatwave conditions continue to grip large parts of north India, raising concerns about student health and school safety.

What the Guidelines Cover

The Basic Education Department has released the 'Guideline for Teachers on Sensitising Students to Heat-Related Illnesses (2026)', a structured framework equipping teachers with practical skills to identify and respond to heat-related medical emergencies. The document covers heatwave protection measures, symptom recognition, first-aid administration, and emergency protocols.

Every school has been directed to formulate a 'School Heat Action Plan' and designate 'Health Nodal Teachers' to coordinate all heatwave-related activities on campus. Orientation sessions for teachers, staff, and students are mandated under the plan.

Key Safety Measures for Schools

Schools must ensure continuous availability of clean drinking water and encourage students to hydrate every 20 to 30 minutes. Students are advised to carry personal water bottles and consume water-rich seasonal fruits such as watermelon, muskmelon, and cucumber.

All strenuous physical and outdoor activities will be suspended during Orange or Red heatwave alerts issued by meteorological authorities. Emergency contact numbers and heatwave protection messages must be displayed prominently within school premises.

Each school is required to stock a first-aid kit, ORS (oral rehydration salts), a digital thermometer, and maintain access to emergency medical services including the '108' ambulance helpline.

Recognising and Responding to Heat Illness

The guidelines detail a clear action protocol for teachers: if a student shows symptoms such as excessive sweating, intense thirst, headache, dizziness, weakness, muscle cramps, vomiting, confusion, or fainting, they must be immediately moved to a shaded area, given first aid, and have cool compresses applied. If the condition does not improve, the 108 ambulance or the nearest health centre must be contacted without delay.

Special monitoring provisions apply to students with pre-existing conditions including asthma, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, or disabilities, as well as those recently recovering from fever or diarrhoea, who are considered at higher risk during heatwave episodes.

Awareness and Community Outreach

Schools have been advised to run awareness drives using 'Dos and Don'ts' posters targeting children, parents, and the broader school community. Teachers are expected to integrate heatwave safety messaging into morning assemblies, classroom instruction, co-curricular activities, and daily school routines.

The guidelines also recommend wearing light-coloured cotton clothing and using hats or umbrellas during outdoor exposure. This initiative reflects a broader push by the state to ensure that rising temperatures do not disrupt children's education, health, or school life. With peak summer conditions expected to persist, implementation of the plan across all schools in the state will be closely watched.