The heat is on: As climate change threatens student athlete safety, states try to adapt

Record Heat Waves Expose Stark Safety Gaps in U.S. Schools: States Scramble to Protect Student Athletes

As climate change intensifies, a stark reality is emerging on school grounds across America: the escalating threat of extreme heat to the health and safety of students, particularly those involved in athletic pursuits. While some affluent schools boast advanced cooling facilities and dedicated medical staff, many others struggle with basic precautions, revealing a deep chasm in resources that directly impacts student well-being.

The Invisible Crisis: Heat Illness Claims Young Lives

Each year, an estimated 9,000 high school athletes require medical attention for heat-related illnesses. The numbers are chilling: in 2021 alone, nine high schoolers succumbed to exertional heat stroke, a new grim record. Since the turn of the millennium, at least 65 teenagers have died from heat-related causes, a statistic that underscores the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures.

This crisis is not confined to the football field. Marching band members have collapsed during sweltering practices, and conditioning drills have tragically turned fatal. The biological vulnerabilities of children to extreme heat are well-documented; their bodies acclimate more slowly to high temperatures, sweat less efficiently, and are more prone to dehydration. Youngsters often lack the awareness to recognize their own limits and seek relief.

“Children spend more time active outdoors, which results in increased exposure to high ambient heat,” notes Autumn Burton, a senior associate focused on climate, health, and environment at the Federation of American Scientists. “Children usually depend on others to provide them with water and protect them from unsafe outdoor environments.”

What is new, Burton explains, is the sheer intensity, duration, and widespread nature of these heat waves. “Communities that didn’t experience extreme heat in decades and years past are now facing it, and they don’t have the infrastructure and planning and protocols in place to deal with it,” she warns.

A Patchwork of Protections: States Grapple with Heat Safety

Currently, the United States lacks a unified national standard for heat safety in schools. While federal regulators are considering a workplace rule that could extend to educational institutions, individual states have begun to forge their own paths. These measures range from adjusting practice schedules and investing in professional-grade cooling equipment to mandating the hiring of licensed athletic trainers.

However, the ability of school districts to implement and exceed these mandates often hinges on their financial capacity. As George LaComb, a senior at Lake Buena Vista High School in Florida and a representative on the National Student Council, observed, the difference in resources between schools can be stark. His current school offers a dedicated recovery room with a full-time trainer, large ice baths, and indoor practice facilities, a stark contrast to his previous, less affluent school’s single makeshift ice bath and cafeteria table for rest.

“There’s a vast difference between schools that have money and schools that don’t,” LaComb stated. “Making sure each school has the resources to keep students safe shouldn’t be dependent on income.”

John Balbus, former deputy assistant secretary for climate change and health equity at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, expresses concern that this disparity will perpetuate inconsistent safety measures. “The lack of funding and capacity in many places around the country will almost certainly lead to a continuation of the Swiss cheese heat health protections at the state and local level,” he predicts.

Leading the Charge: States with Comprehensive Heat Policies

Organizations like the Korey Stringer Institute, dedicated to athletic safety, evaluate states based on their heat illness prevention policies, including athletic trainer licensing and coaching education. Since 2017, nearly 200 such policies have been adopted nationwide.

States such as Florida and Georgia, spurred by tragic heat-related fatalities, have emerged as leaders. They, along with Louisiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and North Carolina, have earned top marks for implementing comprehensive legislation. These states mandate:

• An acclimatization period for athletes at the start of formal practices.
• The use of wet-bulb globe thermometers, considered the gold standard for measuring heat stress, to inform practice adjustments.
• The availability of cold water immersion tubs at all warm-weather practices.
• Adherence to the “cool first, transport second” protocol to lower body temperature before hospital transport.

In contrast, states like Colorado and Maine currently rank low on these evaluations due to a lack of formal heat protections, though California has recently enacted new mandates.

The Unfunded Mandate Challenge: New Hampshire's Experience

New Hampshire, once at the bottom of the Korey Stringer Institute’s rankings, has made significant strides. Following advocacy from athletic trainers, the state enacted robust heat safety policies in 2021, requiring emergency response plans and the use of wet-bulb globe temperature readings to modify practices and games.

“It’s not a partisan issue,” emphasized state Sen. Ruth Ward, who sponsored the legislation. “This is about keeping our kids safe.”

However, the implementation of these vital safety measures has highlighted the persistent issue of unfunded mandates. New Hampshire courts have determined the state underfunds its public schools, and while wet-bulb devices can cost up to $500, the state allocated only a nominal amount for their purchase. This has forced schools to seek external grants to cover even these seemingly small expenses.

Furthermore, New Hampshire, like only three other states, now requires athletic trainers at collision and contact sporting events. Yet, a recent count revealed that nearly a third of secondary schools in the state lack any athletic trainers on staff. The competitive salaries offered by private schools and private practices often draw qualified professionals away from the public sector.

Innovation in the Face of Scarcity: Resourceful Solutions

When budgets are tight, schools and students are finding creative ways to adapt. In New Hampshire’s Kearsarge Regional School District, the assistant athletic director, Molly McDougal, described a resourceful method known as TACO – “tarp-assisted cooling with oscillation.” Lacking the funds for standing immersion tubs, coaches use tarps filled with ice water to rapidly cool overheated athletes.

“It sounds, for lack of a better word, kind of sketchy,” McDougal admitted, “But it’s just as effective.”

In Massachusetts, the Boston school system has partnered with a regional hospital to provide athletic trainers, a solution for districts unable to hire full-time staff. Grants from dermatology groups are helping schools create more shade, and California is actively transforming asphalt-covered schoolyards into shaded green spaces.

Empowering Students: The Role of Self-Advocacy

Beyond institutional measures, students themselves are increasingly recognizing the importance of advocating for their own safety. Isabella Malloy, a senior at Vista PEAK Preparatory in Aurora, Colorado, where temperatures have already broken heat records, shared her experience of hyperventilating during a football game.

“You have to know yourself and if something doesn’t feel right,” Malloy advised. “Some kids get afraid if they tell coach they’re tired, he’ll make you run more,” she added. “It’s hard to advocate for ourselves when you also don’t want to seem lazy.”

The challenge of balancing athletic ambition with personal safety is a growing concern. For students like George LaComb, the increasing frequency of heat-related practice cancellations due to high wet-bulb readings, while necessary for safety, can diminish the joy of sports. Some athletes, desperate for more playing time, have even resorted to manipulating thermometers or organizing unsupervised practices off-campus.

“It’s so hot, and the heat’s increasing so much over the years,” LaComb lamented. “We get less and less play time every year.” He concluded, “It really impacts the joy that you have in the sport. You’re supposed to think only of the game, but now you’re just thinking about how hot it is — even when you’re sitting on the bench.”

As the mercury continues to rise, the conversation around student safety in schools must evolve from reactive measures to proactive, equitable, and well-funded strategies that protect all young athletes, regardless of their school’s zip code.