Coaches, trainers use this tool to protect athletes from heat

It's not just water and sports drinks that protect student-athletes from the heat. There's more than sunscreen or cold rags.

These days, perhaps the No. 1 tool to prevent heat-related illnesses and injuries among student-athletes is a thing called a wet bulb globe thermometer.

Athletic trainers and coaches use the thermometers and guidelines set up by Missouri State High School Activities Association to protect athletes' health.

Area schools were forced several times this week to modify practice and game schedules to meet the safety guidelines as the region endured a week of excessive heat warnings.

A wet bulb thermometer uses a water-soaked cloth in taking readings of several factors that relate to a body's ability to cool itself via sweat and evaporation.

Athletic directors, trainers and coaches use wet bulb readings to determine the timing of practice and the type of activities that are allowed. MSHSAA issues guidelines for various sports and age groups. The rules also state how often breaks should be given to athletes, as well as what gear is allowed at different zone readings. In some cases, if the readings are too high, the rules state that football players cannot wear their pads during that activity. Softball catchers also fall under protected categories.

For those reasons, Matthew Roethemeyer, an assistant athletic director at Jackson High School, said all of Jackson's activities for the past week were pushed later into the evening or early morning. Practices have been pushed back to 6 or 7 p.m. in most cases. Some sports, such as cross-country, have moved practices to 5:30 a.m.

Wet bulb readings are taken at the specific practice sites -- football practice fields or tennis courts.

"We value making sure our athletes are safe, first and foremost," Roethemeyer said. He is one of three people who go to the various sites to conduct the wet bulb readings on a daily basis at the school.

Jason Moore, head athletic trainer at Jackson, said student athletes are given a lot of instruction throughout the season that hydration is an important aspect of an athlete's responsibilities. The job of hydration, he said, starts long before practice begins.

"It's hot, and the humidity is horrendous," Moore said. "We really stress what has to be done before they ever get to a practice. If they wait until then, they've waited too long. We tell them to keep water on them all day long, constantly drinking. And at practice, we give them plenty of breaks. We follow MSHSAA recommendations on how many rest and water breaks to give them, and we usually exceed that.

"We have got to make sure everyone is safe. It's great to win ballgames, but if we're not keeping them safe, none of that matters."

Tyson Moyers, athletic director at Cape Girardeau Public Schools, said they, too, follow MSHSAA guidelines. Several of Central's activities have also been moved around to remove students from the risk of the excessive heat. In addition, he said, "trainers and coaches also stress to our young athletes the importance of listening to their bodies as they discourage overexertion. Our coaches have been trained to spot the signs of heat exhaustion and are highly vigilant in the safeguarding of the health of our athletes."