Parents seek clarity over school-day sunburns

Fort Richmond neighbourhood families are calling for better school communication and sun protection practices after children suffered burns Friday during an emergency-prompted day of outdoor learning.

Typical routines at École St. Avila were upended last week, when the building was vacated two mornings in a row because of a suspected gas leak.

“There were a lot more questions than answers,” said Christie McKechnie-Lamy, a mother of a student at the kindergarten-to-Grade 6 school.

The multi-day saga began on Thursday, when, as McKechnie-Lamy would later learn, her nine-year-old heard a “boom” that sounded as if someone had fallen down a staircase.

The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to an automatic alarm that went off inside the elementary school around 9:45 a.m. Thursday.

“Upon arrival, crews learned that contractors servicing the building’s boiler system had attempted to relight a pilot light, at which point a small explosion occurred,” City of Winnipeg spokesperson Erin Madden said in an email Monday.

“As a precaution, students and staff had already evacuated the building and were sheltering at a nearby community club.”

Madden said one adult was assessed at the scene, but the maintenance employee did not require transportation to a hospital.

“(My son) spent the evening in significant pain and was unable to sleep because of the burns on his face and arms.”

Firefighters did not find any detectable levels of natural gas or carbon monoxide inside the school, she said, adding Manitoba Hydro was notified to assess the gas system and work with division officials to determine next steps.

Hydro reported utility employees turned off the gas to a boiler and issued an inspection notice on Thursday.

St. Avila administration notified families that students and staff received the green-light to re-enter the building later that morning.

That’s why multiple parents told the Free Press they were confused to learn on Friday afternoon their children were spending the day outside.

Principal Jennifer Rothwell wrote in a letter that, out of an abundance of caution, a handful of rooms remained closed for further testing. Students engaged in outdoor learning and play with access to water and the South Winnipeg Community Centre for washrooms and shade breaks, Rothwell said.

“(My son) spent the evening in significant pain and was unable to sleep because of the burns on his face and arms,” one parent later wrote in an email to the Pembina Trails School Division board office.

The author requested her name be withheld from print to protect the privacy of her seven-year-old and nine-year-old — both of whom she said came home with sunburns after an impromptu day outdoors.

What happened on Friday “has me bewildered,” the mother said, noting families were assured the situation had been sorted one day earlier and safety was a top priority.

Young children need reminders and adult supervision to protect themselves if they’re spending extended periods in the sun and parents weren’t given any heads up to prepare, she said.

McKechnie-Lamy said her daughter was “exhausted” after spending all but the entirety of the day outside without preparation.

She would’ve picked up the Grade 3 student on Friday had she known there were ongoing safety concerns before an email arrived in her inbox around 2:30 p.m., roughly five hours after another building clear out she learned about through her daughter, McKechnie-Lamy said.

“There needs to be more transparency to families, so that we can make as informed decisions as possible.”

Pembina Trails did not make an administrator available for comment, but spokesperson Jason Friesen shared a letter about the “flame rollout” that was sent to community members on Friday.

“There needs to be more transparency to families, so that we can make as informed decisions as possible.”

Friesen reiterated extra testing in affected areas — including the boiler room, basement stairwell, Room 9 and an office — took place the day after the incident out of an abundance of caution.

The letter outlined the amenities and resources provided to students on Friday “while they had no access to the school,” he said in an email.

Friesen also indicated the division is in direct communication with a family whose children experienced sunburns.

The Pembina Trails Teachers’ Association identified fluctuating temperatures and wildfire smoke as some of the factors contributing to “teacher workload intensification.”

“The teaching and learning climate continues to face challenges that demand spontaneous adaptations to help ensure safety and health,” president Lise Legal said in an email.

St. Avila administration issued a letter to families over the weekend to report the Pembina Trails health and safety office had confirmed air quality test results were “well within safe and healthy limits.”

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

st avila letter