HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Heat related illnesses occur when the body is exposed to high temperature and high humidity. According to the CDC, anyone exposed to high temperatures or extreme can experience heat related illness symptoms when the body's temperature control system is overloaded.
Madison County School System Athletic Administrator Matt Rogers explained that there are four categories when it comes to heat and athletics: low risk, moderate risk, high risk and extreme. "As far as the heat goes, we follow the Alabama High School Athletic Association Guidelines for exercise restrictions. This week, we're sitting at the moderate to high levels, which is heat index is which exceed 91 degrees, and so we're changing practice formats, changing the amount of equipment that the players wear to try to kind of make sure that we've got their best interest in mind," he added.
So have there been any changes in practice times? "They practice for 45 minutes this early this morning in shells, they're going to go again this afternoon for just 45 minutes in helmets or with no helmets at all. Again, just kind of getting them prepared for Friday night. New Hope is going helmets only for all practices this week. again, just mentally preparing since it's so difficult on their bodies. You know, Hazel gGeen and Sparkman and also are limiting practice times."
And their rule of thumb? "Always cool first and transport second. So we contact EMS if we believe that any bodies have any kind of heat related illness on but we want to cool that body temperature before we actually put them in in an ambulance and start transporting them. We as a district have things in place to kind of make sure that we care for any heat related illnesses in the correct manner. For example, we try to have a cooler area, whether it be indoors, in a field house, whether it be in a shaded area, the practice field where if a kid becomes over overheated, we can tend to them there."