Blistering heat hasn’t been as humid as prior heat waves earlier this summer, but it is enough of a health concern this week that it has prompted several schedule adjustments for area athletic teams.
Those decisions are getting made with guidance from the Kansas State High School Athletics Association — and with perspective from the athletic training staff at Newman Regional Health as discussed on KVOE’s Morning Show on Tuesday. Justin Clark works with Emporia High and Emporia Middle School, as well as area high schools and middle schools. He says the use of wet-bulb temperatures, designed to mimic how (or if) sweat cools the body, determine how schools proceed with their outdoor activities. He also says wet-bulb temperatures are a better indicator of the heat’s impact on an athlete than other stats like heat index.
Matt Burhle works with Emporia State Athletics, specifically with track and field, and he also handles chiropractic care for ESU athletics teams. Wet-bulb temperatures factor heavily into decisions on campus.
Clark says high schools have to track wet-bulb temperatures on their playing surfaces:
*Green readings, or temperatures below 80 degrees, are good for normal activities.
*Yellow readings are for temperatures between 80 and 84.6 degrees. These lead to at least 3 separate rest breaks per hour of at least 4 minutes and the preparation of rapid cooling methods like cold-water immersion tubs
*Orange readings are for temperatures between 84.7 and 87.7 degrees. Practices are cut short at 2 hours, with at least 4 separate rest breaks per hour and rapid cooling methods prepared. Cross country needs to shorten its courses, while football should be limited to helmets and pads unless temperatures went from green or yellow into orange during the practice time
*Red readings are for temperatures between 84.8 and 89.7 degrees. Practices and other activities should be delayed or rescheduled — and shortened to 1 hour maximum with 20 minutes of rest breaks through the hour at minimum. No protective equipment or conditioning activities should take place for football
*Black readings are for any temperatures above 89.8 degrees. Nothing outdoors should be planned
In case you wanted to know, a wet-bulb temperature of 95 degrees are considered the maximum survivable temperature. Peak wet-bulb temperatures are expected in the mid-80s across Lyon County through Labor Day, leading to red-level adjustments this week.
Adjustments have been at the school and college level.
Emporia High
*JV tennis dual with Topeka West has been canceled for Tuesday
Area schools
*Eureka has its girls golf tournament now starting at 10 am Wednesday
*Hamilton football and cross country are having morning practices, with high school starting at 5:30 am and cross country at 6 am
*Lyndon Junior High football game moved from 6:30 pm kickoff Thursday to 7:30 pm
*Madison football and cross country are having morning practices, with high school starting at 5:30 am and cross country at 6 am
*North Lyon County Junior High has a 6 am football practice and an optional cross country practice at 7 am Wednesday. NLC football game against Burlingame on Thursday is moving to 7:30 pm kickoff
Emporia State University
Wednesday’s soccer match against Rockhurst now begins at 5 pm
KVOE and KVOE.com will have updates.
Kansas State High School Activities Association guidance on wet-bulb temperatures
Kansas State High School Activities Association graphic.
Kansas State High School Activities Association graphic.
