Experts express caution for student-athletes practicing in the heat
Students all over the Coachella Valley are heading back to school. This time of year is also close to the start of high school football season, as fields are filled with young football players running drills getting ready for the season, usually during very high temperatures.
“It’s very hot gotta stay hydrated make sure you’re eating right,” said Jacob Duardo , a senior & linebacker.
It’s not just football players that face the heat, the marching band is out there practicing as well.
“I get really really dizzy outside because of the heat,” said Valerie Cossio, marching band color guard.
School officials say there are policies in place to keep students safe on the field.
“As it gets hotter we decrease our practice periods, increase our break periods, increase the amount of time to drink water and to cool down as well,” said Michael Ventura, athletic director for Palm Springs High School.
The policy is based on a heat index memo that limits activity accordingly. For example, last week was classified as “intense heat” as temperatures reached between 105 and 129 degrees. Sunstroke, heat cramps or heat exhaustion were all likely and even heat strokes were possible.
Under conditions like that, coaches are instructed to reduce practice to just 1/4 vigorous activity and 3/4 light activity or rest.
“We’ll cut the practice time down maybe to 1 hour or some days we’ll have practice with just helmets on and eliminate the shoulders and the rest of the equipment,” Ventura said.
At CVUSD, school officials modify outdoor activities like recess for younger students.
“If it gets too hot we make sure that the students are not running around, that they have a safe place to go to where its covered and shaded,” said Maria Gandera, assistant superintendent of human resources for CVUSD.
One psychotherapist has issued a warning for hyperthermia, or body overheating, and the effects it can have on young brains.
“At the end of the long day that your child’s been in school and they’ve been participating in a sport and they are overheated, it would be very challenging for them to have appropriate memory skills. They’d have trouble with concentration. They’re gonna have trouble with their mood. They’re gonna be irritable,” said Kelly Lewallen, a psychotherapist based in Palm Desert.
Duardo was actually hospitalized after playing in the heat. However, he noted that his coaches are very cautious when it comes to the heat.
“I was dehydrated, kidney failure. Yeah, had to go to the hospital, I was out for a bit but I’m back and I’m feeling better,” Duardo said. “They’re (coaches) doing good though, make sure everybody’s alright.”
Experts say that when it comes to the heat, you can’t be careful enough.
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