A review of safety risk management and optimization strategies for physical education classes in Chinese schools in heat-stress environments

Global warming influences rising temperatures, making outdoor physical education classes progressively challenging to organize. While heat acclimatization is essential for athletic development, the conventional emphasis on “endurance” training in Chinese schools sometimes overlook the physical limitations of youths. This paper reviews outdoor sports in heat acclimatization related published articles and examines the body’s response to heat stress and evaluates whether physical education professionals are prepared to reduce these risks. This review found that many coaches and teachers lack the requisite practical knowledge to prevent heat stress, often reacting to issues only post-occurrence; a comparison of international standards highlights a further issue: unlike other countries, which follows strict guidelines, China lacks clear and specific guidelines for youth sports safety in heat acclimatization; Heat stress significantly affects physical performance and willingness to participate in activities among youths and heat acclimatization training is an effective intervention method. To address this, we recommend using the student military training period as an opportunity to build heat acclimatization. Additionally, physical education classes must be updated to prioritize hydration, proper clothing, and controlled exercise intensity during hot weather. Establishing these standard safety rules is essential to protect students and ensure they can continue participating in sports safely.