COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Heat is expected throughout the week and local districts are making adjustments.
In Hilliard, elementary school students must stay indoors for recess the rest of the week.
“It’s not particularly convenient, but it’s a short window of time and I think it’s the safest option for us,” said David Stewart, superintendent of Hilliard City Schools. “Our number one priority is student safety and what we know about extreme heat like this is that it’s dangerous and you shouldn’t mess around with it.”
When it comes to high school sports, athletic trainers dictate what coaches can and cannot do. Most guidelines are based on a WetBulb Globe temperature reading that takes several factors into account.
“We try to do everything as proactively as possible,” said Justin Budd, Ohio Health head athletic trainer for Hilliard Bradley.
He showed us how the wet bulb works.
“You measure the temperature in the sun and the temperature on a black globe to get the actual temperature. You measure the humidity, add the wind speed into the calculation at the top and you come up with this formula,” he said.
The number tells him what sports teams can and can’t do. Precautions include shorter games, shorter practice times, water breaks every 15 minutes, whether or not football players can wear protective pads and more.
Other school districts have also told us how they are struggling with the heat.
Lancaster High School: “Due to the predicted heat, Lancaster High School students will be dismissed two hours early on Tuesday, August 27th and Wednesday, August 28th.”
Columbus City Schools: “As a district, we take weather-related concerns seriously. We are pleased to announce that each of our school buildings is now equipped with air conditioning. This will provide some relief on days with heat warnings. Additionally, CCS has contracts in place that require air conditioning providers to be on-site for Priority 1 emergencies within 3 hours of notification, if needed.”
Olentangy: “Our athletic trainers follow OHSAA guidelines for activities in the heat. They have wet bulb thermometers to closely monitor the fields. We rely on our coaches to determine the safety of every activity at our high schools and middle schools. We also have guidelines for recess at the elementary school.”
