As the fall sports season begins, schools across Texas and Arizona are facing a significant challenge: protecting student athletes from extreme heat. With temperatures soaring into the triple digits, educational institutions are implementing new safety protocols to ensure the well-being of young athletes.
The National Weather Service has forecasted continued high temperatures, with the heat index often reaching dangerous levels. This has prompted schools to adopt innovative strategies to monitor and mitigate the risks associated with extreme heat.
New guidelines for heat safety
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) in Texas has mandated the use of wet-bulb globe temperature meters for all outdoor activities. These devices measure the heat stress in direct sunlight, providing critical data for coaches and athletic trainers. The UIL requires that readings be taken within 15 minutes of an activity starting and recommends designating a specific person to collect this data throughout outdoor sessions.
Students in Texas State Technical College’s Occupational Safety and Environmental Compliance (OSEC) program are being trained to use these meters. In a recent Industrial Hygiene class at the Waco campus, students learned about the history and operation of these devices, which were originally invented for military training camps in the 1950s.
Adapting to extreme conditions
Patti Tate, an instructor in TSTC’s OSEC program, emphasized the importance of monitoring each other for signs of heat stress. She advised that outdoor work should be scheduled for early morning or evening hours, with frequent breaks to rest and cool down. “In this heat, later than that it is really necessary to stop, rest, and cool down,” she said.
Lindsay Sanders, a Vocational Nursing instructor at TSTC’s Sweetwater campus, stressed the importance of hydration. “The most important thing is to remain hydrated. In these temperatures, the more you drink, the better off you will be,” she said. Loose-fitting clothing and access to cold water or ice packs are also recommended to prevent heat exhaustion.
Protecting young athletes
Fall outdoor sports such as cross country, football, golf, and tennis are currently taking place in Texas schools. Marching bands, cheerleaders, and dance teams also practice and perform throughout the autumn. Athletic trainers like Julianna Flores at Waco High School are particularly concerned about freshmen who may not be acclimated to the physical demands of high school sports.
Flores highlighted the importance of knowing a student’s medical history and any past incidents of heat exhaustion. She noted that coaches are generally aware of the risks and take students’ requests seriously. However, she observed that many students do not fully grasp the importance of nutrition and hydration, leading to initial struggles during the first week of practice.
Brynna Seay, an athletic trainer at University High School in Waco, advised students to practice hydration throughout the summer. She emphasized the critical nature of the first few days of practice, when athletes are most at risk. Communication with the coaching staff is essential to determine whether to shorten or delay practices based on wet bulb temperature readings.
Innovative solutions in Arizona
In Arizona, schools like Salpointe Catholic are taking similar precautions. The athletic director, Phil Gruensfelder, noted that hot conditions at the start of the school year make afternoon practices unsafe. “They can’t come out and run in the afternoon at 3:30 or 4:00 because the conditions are dangerous,” he said. The school holds practices in the early morning and provides frequent water breaks and access to ice tubs for cooling down.
Salpointe Catholic has also installed a weather system that detects wet bulb temperatures, which measure heat stress on the human body. This system provides real-time data to ensure the safety of athletes. High schools are required to have certified athletic trainers or EMTs on the field during games to respond to any heat-related incidents.
Kevin Smith, chief medical officer at Tucson Medical Center, explained that kids and teens are more susceptible to heat illness than adults. “Some of it is their body just isn’t as well developed as adults are when it comes to how their body regulates temperature,” he said. Football, in particular, is a sport with a high risk of heat-related illness.
Preparing for the future
As the fall semester begins, schools are continuing to register students for various programs. The Texas State Technical College, for example, starts its fall semester on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Registration continues for the fall semester, and more information can be found on their website.
Schools across Texas and Arizona are adapting to these challenges by adopting innovative technologies and protocols to ensure the well-being of their students.
