According to the CDC, heat illness during practice or competition is the leading cause of death among U.S. high school athletes.

Mecklenburg County Schools uses the VHSL Heat & Hydration policies in determining exercise guidelines for early fall and late spring athletic participation. The use of heat stress monitors, local forecasts, current heat and humidity, current wet bulb globe temperature readings, as well as the interpolation of the data by the current Athletic Training staff, determines the policy for each given day.

The National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommends that adolescent athletes should allow up to 14 days to become fully acclimatized, gradually building intensity and duration of work in the heat. 

Here are some tips for coaches, athletes, and parents to play it safe during hot weather: 

• Wear light-colored and lightweight clothing; if clothes become saturated with sweat, change into dry clothes. 

• Try to drink cold water as frequently as possible. During long bouts of intense exercise, it's a good idea to use a sports drink that contains sodium to replace the sodium lost in sweat. Most sports drinks contain adequate salt. Salt tablets are not recommended. 

• Pay attention to early signs and symptoms of dehydration: Dry or sticky mouth, thirst, headache, dizziness, cramps, and/or excessive fatigue 

• Don’t let embarrassment keep you on the field. If you feel dehydrated or sick, tell your coach right away. 

• Sleep at least six to eight hours at night in a cool environment, eat a well-balanced diet, and stay hydrated throughout the day, even when you are not on the playing field. 

• Track body weight to make sure you are properly hydrated. Your goal should be less than 2 percent body-weight change during a practice session.

It is important that schools develop a Lightning Safety Plan. The following guidelines are provided by the NFHS.

1. Assign staff to monitor local weather conditions before and during practices and contests.

   • It is the athletic training/coaching/athletic staff’s responsibility to be aware of current weather conditions within the area and potential threats. Staff will then be aware of the possibility of a storm forming or moving into the area during the day.  

2. Develop an evacuation plan, including identification of appropriate nearby Safe Areas and determine the amount of time needed to get everyone to a designated safe area:

   • A designated Safe Area is a substantial building with plumbing and wiring where people live or work, such as a school, gymnasium; or an alternate safe place from the threat of lightning is a fully enclosed (not convertible or soft top) metal car or school bus with the windows rolled up.

3. Develop criteria for suspension and resumption of play:

   • When thunder is heard or lightning is seen*, the leading edge of the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location. Suspend play for at least 30 minutes and vacate the outdoor activity to the previously designated safe location immediately.

   • Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or lightning is witnessed* prior to resuming play.

   • Any subsequent thunder or lightning* after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.

   • When lightning-detection devices or mobile phone apps are available, this technology could be used to assist in making a decision to suspend play if a lightning strike is noted to be within 10 miles of the event. However, you should never depend on the reliability of these devices and, thus, hearing thunder or seeing lightning* should always take precedence over information from a mobile app or lightning-detection device.

4. Review the lightning safety policy annually with all administrators, coaches, and game personnel, and train all personnel. 

5. Inform student-athletes and their parents of the lightning policy at start of the season.

* At night, under certain atmospheric conditions, lightning flashes may be seen from distant storms. In these cases, it may be safe to continue an event. If no thunder can be heard and the flashes are low on the horizon, the storm may not pose a threat. Independently verified lightning detection information would help eliminate any uncertainty.