Heat Policy

Heat Illness

According to the Center for Disease Control, heat illness during practice or competition is the leading cause of death among US high school athletes. In order to be proactive, the Los Fresnos CISD Sports Medicine and Athletic Department has instituted a heat policy to activate as the temperature and heat index rises.

Key Terms and Definitions:

Heat Cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pain and spasm due to heavy exertion and dehydration. Heat cramps usually involve the abdominal muscles or legs, and it is generally thought that dehydration is the cause.
Heat Exhaustion: Heat exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a warm, humid environment where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Fluid loss causes blood flow to decrease in the vital organs, resulting in a form of shock.
Heat Stroke: Heat stroke is life threatening. The victim’s temperature-control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Any heat stroke victim must be quickly cooled and referred for advanced medical attention. Dehydration: When fluid loss exceeds fluid intake
Effects of Dehydration: Dehydration can affect an athlete’s performance in less than an hour of exercise—sooner if the athlete begins the session dehydrated Dehydration of just 1%-2% of body weight (only 1.5-3 lbs. for a 150lb. athlete) can negatively influence performance Dehydration of greater than 3% of body weight increases an athlete’s risk of heat illness (heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke)
Warning Signs of Dehydration: Recognize the basic signs of dehydration
- Thirst
- Irritability
- Headache
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Cramps
- Nausea

Heat Policy

Specific heat conditions will determine activity restrictions during practice according to the following:

100 F-104 F Temperature and/or Heat Index 105 F–110F

Football: shorts and shoulder pads workout

Football teams will be in shorts and shoulder pads
Water breaks occur every 30 minutes
Each break will be five minutes of total rest time with helmets off
Practice will not exceed two hours of total heat exposure
Open water policy during entire practice
Helmet removal encouraged while not in contact drills

Football: full pads workout

Water breaks every 20 minutes.
Each break will be five minutes of total rest time with helmets off.
Practice will not exceed 1.5 hours of total heat exposure.
Open water policy during entire practice.
Helmet removal encouraged while not in contact drills.

Cross Country/Boys' and Girls' Track

Long distance runners have to stay on campus and/or within a park where they can be seen by the coaches.
Athletes cannot run routes where a coach cannot see the athletes running
Water breaks will occur every 30 minutes with five-minute total rest time
Practice will not exceed two hours of total heat exposure
Track and field athletes will take a five-minute break every 30 minutes, athletes should be off their feet.

Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Tennis

Players will be required to take a water break every 30 minutes with five minutes of total rest time.
Practice will not exceed two hours of total heat exposure.

Offseason programs

45 minutes of total heat exposure with one water break during this time

105 F – 106 F Temperature and/or Heat Index 111 F-115 F

Football

Shorts and shoulder pad practices only.
   ·         Breaks will occur every 20 minutes.
   ·         Breaks will be 5 minutes of total rest time.
   ·         Workout will be 2 hours of total heat exposure.
   ·         A 1 minute station break every 2 five minute periods.
   ·         Athletes will stay at the station they are working, and staff and student athletic trainers will water the athletes.

Cross Country Workouts/ Men’s and Women’s Track

   ·         Runners have to stay on campus and/or within a park where they can be seen by the coaches.
   ·         Athlete cannot run routes where a coach cannot see the athletes running
   ·         Water breaks will occur every 20 minutes with a 5 minute total rest time.
   ·         Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure.

Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Tennis

Players will be required to take a water break every 20 minutes with 5 minutes of total rest time.
· Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure.

Offseason workouts

30 minutes of total heat exposure with 1 water break during this time

107 F-109 F Temperature and/or Heat Index of 116 to 117 F

Football

Shorts, shirt, and helmets only.
   ·         Breaks will occur every 20 minutes.
   ·         Workout will be limited to 1.5 hours of total heat exposure.
   ·         Open water policy during entire workout.

Cross Country workouts/ Men’s and Women’s Track

Runners have to stay on campus and/or within a park where they can be    seen by the coaches.
   ·         Athlete cannot run routes where a coach cannot see the athletes running.
   ·         Water breaks will occur every 15 minutes with a 5 minute total rest time.
   ·         Practice will not exceed 1.5 hours of total heat exposure.

Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Tennis

Tennis players will be required to take a water break every 20 minutes with 5 minutes of total rest time.
· Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure.

Off season workouts

30 minutes of total heat exposure with 1 water break during this time.

110 F or higher Temperature and or Heat Index higher than 118 F

Middle School: (No Medical Staff Available)

100 F – 104 F and/or a Heat Index of 100 F-110 F

Football: shorts and shoulder pads workouts

Water breaks will occur every 20 minutes.
   ·         Each break will be 5 minutes of total rest time with helmets off.
   ·         Practice will not exceed 2 hours of total heat exposure
   ·         Open water policy during entire practice.
   ·         Helmet removal encouraged while not in contact drills.

Football: Pads Workout

Water breaks every 20 minutes.
   ·         Each break will be 5 minutes of total rest time with helmets off.
   ·         Practice will not exceed 1.5 hours of total heat exposure.
   ·         Open water policy during entire practice.
   ·         Helmet removal encouraged while not in contact drills.

All other sports

Runners have to stay on campus and/or within a park where they can be seen by the coaches.
   ·         Athlete cannot run routes where a coach cannot see the athletes running.
   ·         Water breaks will occur every 15 minutes with a 5minute total rest time.
   ·         Practice will not exceed 1.5 hours of total heat exposure

Off season workouts

30 minutes of total heat exposure with 1 water break during this time.

105 or higher Temperature and/or Heat Index of 110 or higher