Wilson County and Lebanon schools will be closed again Wednesday.

While road conditions improve, many roads remain safety concerns.

With the predicted heat index at or above 100 degrees for the remainder of the week, Tennesseans need to make wise decisions to protect themselves and their children from heat-related illnesses, especially as the 2010-2011 school year begins in some counties across the state.

"It's important for parents and caregivers to make sure children are properly hydrated," said Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN. "With morning temperatures above 80 degrees, kids waiting on the bus stop should have water available just like those who are participating in outdoor activities in the afternoon. Consider providing your child a water bottle to have on hand throughout the day."

Some of the illnesses caused by extreme heat include heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn and heat rash. Symptoms include dizziness, heavy sweating, muscle cramps, rapid heart beat, nausea, headaches and cold/clammy skin.

The most life-threatening heat-related illness is heat stroke, which causes the death of approximately 400 people nationwide each year. The condition occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature, which rises quickly without the ability to cool down. If emergency treatment is not provided, heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability. Symptoms include body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit; red, hot and dry skin without sweating; rapid, strong pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion and loss of consciousness.

"Take the necessary steps to protect and care for the young and the elderly, who are at greater risk in extreme heat. Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, and never leave anyone unattended in a car," said Cooper.

Schools affiliated with Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) must abide by its heat policy, which outlines requirements for practice and competing in high temperatures and prohibits all activities when the heat index is in excess of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. For more information, contact your child's school or district office.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a few simple steps to avoid these preventable illnesses:

• Drink fluids frequently. Don't wait until you are thirsty to drink. Remember to consume non-alcoholic, low-sugar drinks in hot weather.
• Replace salt and minerals. Heavy sweating from increased temperatures can deplete your body's salt and minerals. Non-alcoholic drinks, like sports drinks, can help you replenish these reserves.
• Wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen. Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, as well as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection. Wear SPF 15 or higher sunscreen every day.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully. Try to limit outdoor activity to morning and evening hours with rest breaks in shady areas, if available.
• Pace yourself. If you are unaccustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and increase effort gradually. If your heart is pounding or you are gasping for breath, stop the activity and rest in a cool, shady area.
• Stay cool indoors. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the mall or library to cool off. Cool showers or baths, as well as keeping your stove and oven off, are other ways to cool down inside.
• Use the buddy system. Partner with a friend and watch for signs of heat-related illnesses in each other. Senior citizens are more susceptible, so if you are over 65, ask a friend to check on you over the phone twice a day. If you know someone in this age group, remember to check on them at least twice a day.
• Monitor those at high risk. Infants and children under 4 years of age, people over 65, people who are overweight, those who overexert themselves during work or exercise and people who are physically ill (especially those who have heart disease or high blood pressure, take certain medication, or suffer from insomnia, depression or poor circulation) are especially at risk.
• Call for immediate medical assistance if you believe you or another person is experiencing heat stroke. While waiting on emergency assistance, get the victim to a shady area, cool them rapidly using cool water and monitor body temperature until it reaches 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, and do not give the victim any fluids to drink.

For more information about heat-related illnesses, including prevention and treatment tips, visit the CDC's website.

PHOTO by Leofan7

On June 15, Governor Phil Bredesen announced Safe Routes to School funding for the City of Lebanon totaling $239,639 for improvements at Walter J. Baird Middle School. The Safe Routes to School program is a statewide initiative designed to make bicycling and walking to school a safer, more appealing an healthier alternative for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

"The Safe Routes to School program is a great opportunity for schools, communities and government officials to work together to promote a healthier lifestyle for Tennessee children," Bredesen said. "The program helps create safer walking and biking environments for students and funds activities to encourage children and their parents to consider walking and biking to school for a more active lifestyle."

The City of Lebanon will utilize the Safe Routes to School funds for sidewalk construction. Funds will also be used to provide a safety educational program and promotional activities to encourage walking and biking as a safe and healthy initiative.

The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

"The Safe Routes to School program is an innovative program that integrates health, safety, traffic relief and environmental awareness under one umbrella," TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely said. "Funds may be used for infrastructure projects and for other programs that directly support increased safety and encourage elementary and middle school children to walk and bike to school."

This year, TDOT provided more than $2.6 million in Safe Routes to School funds to 15 municipalities for projects across the state.

Senator Mae Beavers and Representatives Stratton Bone and Susan Lynn represent Wilson County in the Tennessee General Assembly and helped secure these funds.

The projects awarded through these grants are funded through $10.8 million in federal funds made available through 2009. The funds were provided specifically for this purpose through SAFETEA-LU (Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users), the federal surface transportation program. The Safe Routes to School program is 100% federally funded and does not require a local match.

The Safe Routes to School program is comprised of five elements referred to as the 5 E's. The selection process was driven by the following:

• Engineering - creating operational and physical improvements to the infrastructure surrounding schools that reduce speeds and potential conflicts with motor vehicle traffic, and establishing safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails and bikeways.
• Education - teaching children about the broad range of transportation choices, instructing them in important lifelong bicycle and walking safety skills and launching driver safety campaigns in the vicinity of schools.
• Enforcement - partnering with local law enforcement agencies to ensure traffic laws are obeyed in the vicinity of schools (including enforcement of speeds, yielding to pedestrians in crossings, and proper walking and bicycling behaviors), and to initiate community enforcement such as crossing guard programs.
• Encouragement - events and activities to promote walking and bicycling (bike rodeos).
• Evaluation - monitoring and documenting outcomes and trends through the collection of data both before and after the intervention.

To learn more about the Safe Routes to School program at the Tennessee Department of Transportation, please visit http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/bikeped/saferoutes.htm.