SMAC Alert: Heat Illness and Air Quality Reminders

With the start of fall practices beginning this week and next, some parts of Colorado will be experiencing extremely high temperatures and poor air quality. The information below serves as an important reminder regarding the seriousness of heat illness and its effects on student-athletes.

Please take a moment to review the information below prior to any practices and make any necessary adjustments to your plans, including increasing water breaks and reducing intensity as needed.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical health and safety issue. Keeping student-athletes safe is a shared responsibility—CHSAA and the CHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) appreciate your leadership in ensuring best practices are followed during extreme conditions.

For complete CHSAA Heat Illness guidance, visit: CHSAA SMAC Handbook
 

HEAT ILLNESS OVERVIEW

Heat illness occurs when athletes are exposed to excessive environmental heat. It can present as:

• Heat cramps
• Heat exhaustion
• Heat stroke (medical emergency)

WBGT Monitoring

Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) evaluates heat stress by considering temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle, and cloud cover.
This is more accurate than the heat index (which only considers temperature and humidity).

• Monitor WBGT here: National Weather Service WBGT Tool
  ? Click the top map, zoom into your location, and click on your practice site. The WBGT reading will appear in green on the right-hand side.
• Use the Colorado WBGT Activity Guidelines Chart to determine necessary practice modifications.

Questions to Consider:

• HOW are you monitoring the heat?
• HOW are you modifying workouts in response?
• HOW are you implementing your hydration strategy?
• HOW are you cooling athletes effectively (ice baths vs. ice bags)?
• HOW will you activate EMS if needed?

AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI)

AQI indicates how clean or polluted the air is and any related health risks.

• Check AQI for your area: Colorado AQI Advisory
• Practices should be modified or moved indoors when AQI > 100
• Consider postponing or relocating events when AQI > 200

Special Considerations:

• Distance runners should avoid busy roadways.
• Schedule workouts early to reduce ozone exposure.
• Monitor athletes with asthma closely when AQI exceeds 100. They should always have access to a rescue inhaler.

HYDRATION GUIDELINES

Adolescent Fluid Recommendations:

Athletes should continue to hydrate for 2–3 hours after activity.