07/29/2025
With the high school football preseason about to ramp up, it raises concerns about player safety in the summer heat. A mother recently expressed her frustration after her son collapsed during football practice at Mid-South high school.
In Tennessee, teams are permitted to conduct voluntary preseason practices, as outlined in the rules of the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA). The association also outlines guidelines for coaches and schools to follow, helping players acclimate to the heat before they strap on their pads.
The TSSAA guidelines indicate that most heat-related deaths occur during the first few days of practice. They also point out that athletes are four times more likely to suffer a heat injury.
TSSAA also reports that an athlete will take longer than 2-3 weeks to adjust to the heat. Nick Watkins, MD, an emergency medicine physician at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, says it's important for everyone, particularly student-athletes, to be hydrated when they're outside: "Heat-related illness can cause death. Thankfully, it’s relatively uncommon, but it can progress to that point, especially if it’s not recognized early on and it’s not treated early on."
Hear more about heat safety and sports in this FOX13 Memphis story: https://ow.ly/SB9w50Ww4pc
