Recently, death due to heat in sports practice has been on the rise, with 42 adolescent deaths being reported due to external heat strokes within the past 19 years. Of these people, it has been found that the majority of the deaths occurred in football players and that the rest were in basketball, soccer, and track and field.
A little less than a year ago, a family that was a victim of their child dying as a result of high temperatures during football practice said they are not happy with the school’s protocol. They had not had the proper medical equipment with them nor had they followed regulations to keep the students safe and healthy.
A similar incident came about family a few months ago. The student passed due to organ failure caused by a severe heat stroke.
This was revealed after he was hospitalized for fainting during football practice. The details around what the school had done during the practice was not publicized, sparking a debate as to whether schools have the proper equipment and regulations to safely hold sports practice.
A possible reason for these deaths is many schools not having an athletic trainer staff member. These individuals are members of the staff that are responsible for watching over the health and well-being of student athletes. In 2022, 34% of schools in the United States with athletic programs were reported to not have an athlete trainer in their staff. Since these members also respond to emergency medical situations that are sport related, not being there to provide immediate help during an emergency can lead to a lower chance of survival.
Another source of climbing deaths in these students has been alleged to be increasing global warming and climate change. In the state of Virginia, the temperature has steadily been growingwith a 2.8 degrees Fahrenheit being added to the average annual temperature every year since 1970. It has been rising for more than 50 years. With this rise in temperature, it is vital to make adjustments in order to assure the safety of all students.
Many schools have taken a step to help monitor the temperatures more accurately so as to reduce the risk of heat injuries. The Wet Globe Bulb Temperature (WBGT), is a measure of temperature that takes the humidity, ambient temperature, wind speed, sun angle, direct sunlight, and cloud cover into account. It is said to act as a more precise way for schools to determine if the conditions are too harsh to risk student participation, as it does not assume certain conditions to be true like the regular heat index does.
The WBGT is currently being utilized by the U.S. military and professional athlete associations, producing greater results in contrast to the heat index.
As we kick off into the football season, it is important to employ strategies in order to stay safe during sports. Methods, such as drinking water or knowing how to treat heat-illnesses, are key to practicing safely during the upcoming sports seasons.
