As temperatures soar in Texas, Dallas ISD’s Sports Medicine Department are ensuring student-athletes are safe during extreme heat conditions.
The University Interscholastic League (UIL) recently implemented new heat safety protocols, but Dallas ISD has been following similar measures for the past decade.
The new UIL standards require cooling stations, restricted outdoor practice hours, and suspension of outdoor activities such as sports, band, and cheer, when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WGBT) reaches 92.1 degrees or higher. WGBT is a collection of ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind, and solar radiation from the sun.
Corey Eaton, Assistant Director of Sports Medicine, oversees outdoor activities during hot summer months and throughout the year. While the district adheres to UIL guidelines, the district has also incorporated the latest scientific research and best practices to prevent heat-related injuries. As a result, Dallas ISD was already in compliance when UIL introduced its new requirements.
“The Sports Medicine Department has a commitment to the student-athletes’ safety and well-being that goes beyond compliance and a proactive approach to medicine,” he said. “Our previous guidelines implemented played a crucial role in preventing heat-related illnesses among student-athletes.
One of the strategies Dallas ISD employs is “heat acclimation,” which involves gradually increasing the intensity of activity to help student-athletes’ bodies adapt to the heat. While UIL requires at least five days of practice before a game, Dallas ISD football players undergo 10 practices to ensure proper acclimation.
Other measures include regular hydration and mandatory water breaks, heat prevention education to coaches and student-athletes, and cooling stations. Some of the district’s most common cooling stations are water cows, misting fans, tents, cooling tubs, and buckets with water towels.
UIL’s full heat plan and protocols can be found here.
