How schools keep Kentuckiana student-athletes safe during extreme heat

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — With many students across Kentuckiana returning to school this week, high school athletes are already practicing in the summer heat.

Local health officials said taking the right precautions before practicing in hot temperatures can help prevent heat-related illnesses.

At schools across Louisville and surrounding counties, UofL Health – Sports Medicine athletic trainers track conditions throughout practice and follow Kentucky High School Athletic Association guidelines to decide whether athletes need more breaks, less equipment or even an indoor practice.

David Koch, an athletic supervisor with UofL Health, said he has already seen a few cases of heat exhaustion this year and wants people to focus on stopping the problem before it starts.

"Prevention is so much better than getting into a problem," Koch said.

Koch said athletes with heat exhaustion often feel dizzy, nauseous, confused or like they just can't cool down. When that happens, trainers move quickly, often using an ice bath to bring body temperature back down.

One of the main tools they rely on is a Wet-Bulb Globe Thermometer, which measures the ambient temperature, humidity, windspeed, and solar radiation. Using that data, they can determine how safe it is to practice outside.

Koch also said athletes that need to practice with heavy equipment — like football or lacrosse pads — usually need to take extra precautions.

"We need to make sure that they go through that acclimatizing process without any gear on and gradually add gear as they go along," Koch said.

Koch said one of the most important preventions methods, however, is consistent hydration. Athletes can help themselves before practice even starts by staying hydrated throughout the day.

"Very often, it's the kid who comes to practice dehydrated that ends up in trouble," he said.

Koch said those extra precautions are worth it.

"The last (thing) we want to have is a kid hurt because of heat in a situation where that injury or potentially death was preventable, Koch said. "That’s just not something that’s acceptable."