As temperatures drop, students wonder if they will be attending school on the days with extremely low temperatures.
Snow days do not only occur when there is snow. Freezing temperatures can also affect school closures.
“The classrooms are absolutely freezing,” Cora Burnham said.
During winter, low temperatures are expected but usually not enough to affect the normal routine unless there is a windchill.
Windchill can make the air feel as cold as ten degrees below the actual temperature. This can make outside conditions dangerous for people to be exposed to.
It causes quicker development of frostbite and hypothermia. In Idaho, temperatures for the next two days, Jan. 12 and 13, are expected to be in the negatives. Not only does the cold affect school, but it also affects the transportation to school.
“Currently, my doors are frozen shut, so I have not been able to drive to school all week,” Burnham said.
Jan. 13 being negative three degrees as the high and negative seventeen degrees being the low. While Saturday looks better, it is not great. It is said that negative two degrees will be the high and negative five degrees will be the low.
Precautions to take when windchill occurs are to wear head and neck coverings to prevent heat loss, make sure to not be outside for a prolonged period of time, as well as stay hydrated.
This is because being hydrated helps maintain the right body temperature. Cancellation of many events within the school has taken place within the past week due to the negative temperatures.
One of Lakeland’s fundraisers, the Frozen 5k, is included in this list of events that have been adjusted.
“I am still running outside because the cold does not bother me,” Charles Mattila, an LHS student, said.
Whether or not the event would continue was on the minds of those participating and those hosting.
“Having the event moved to being virtual, in my opinion, is unnecessary,” Mattila said.
Lakelands student council hosts the Frozen 5k to raise money for the annual battle for the paddle. Canceling the run would be somewhat out of the question for the student council, as a big part of the fundraising comes from the Frozen 5k.
So, the group of students turned to adjusting the event to accommodate the runners. Running is not recommended at 32 degrees or less. However, with the expected temperatures of negative ten to fifteen degrees, running outside as the fundraiser intended to continue was unsafe.
LHS turned to a virtual option. Participants are able to run in the comfort of their own homes, as well as in other outside areas that are not as cold.
The runners are able to go online to sign up, as well as send in photos and their running distances and times so that they can get recognition for accomplishments.
Not only is this run good for those who enjoy running, but the proceeds go to a good job. The 5k was designed to support families in the Rathdrum area who have experienced difficult times. Last year, $4000 was raised and given to the Backpack program as well as the Lakeland Strong Fund. The backpack program sends food home to children who need the food over weekends and breaks.
Turning to the virtual option allows for the money to be raised and the participants to continue in safe conditions. Registration is $25 and includes a T-shirt designed by student Madison Hersh.
Students and community members can sign up at Tinyurl.com/LHSFrozen5k.
