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Bedford County Public Schools
Heat and Hydration Guidelines
Purpose: Heat and Hydration Guidelines are provided to educate staff, students, and parents regarding
the prevention and treatment of an individual experiencing signs of heat related illnesses.
 The guidelines apply to any staff or student participating in the following events during hot
weather:
o summer youth sport camps;
o team tryouts, practices, or contests; or
o band practices or performances
Section 1: Signs and Symptoms of Major Heat Illnesses
In order to give the highest quality of care for heat illnesses, it is vital to be able to recognize the
illnesses in the early stages. The symptoms for the three major heat illnesses are listed below.
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Exercise-associated muscle heat cramps
o Dehydration
o Thirst
o Sweating
o Muscle cramps
o Fatigue
o Normal body temperature
Heat Exhaustion
o Normal body temperature
o Dizziness
o Lightheadedness
o Fainting (syncope)
o Whitish skin tone (pallor)
o
o
o
o
Profuse sweating
Cool, clammy skin
Weakness
Hyperventilation
Heat Stroke
o Irrational behavior
o Confusion
o Irritability
o Apathy
o Delirium
o Seizures
o
o
o
o
o
Loss of consciousness
Hot and wet or cold dry skin
Tachycardia (100 to 120 BPM)
Vomiting
Elevated body temperature
Section 2: Heat Index Measurement
The heat index, sometimes called the humiture, is the composite measurement of the air temperature and
the humidity. As the heat index rises, the body has a more difficult time releasing heat through sweating
and evaporation. To measure the heat index, three methods are viable:
 Sling psychrometer: An analog device that measures the heat index using the wet globe bulb
temperature and dry air temperature
 Digital psychrometer: A digital device that measures the heat index using the same principles as
the sling psychrometer
 Internet weather sites: A reliable internet weather site such as WeatherBug may be used as a
backup system to confirm measurements.
Who should take the measurement?
The athletic trainer should take the heat index measurement whenever he/she is present. If he/she is not
present, the athletic director or another designated and trained staff member should take the
measurement.
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When should the measurement be taken?
The heat index measurement should be taken 15 minutes before a practice or a contest. At a
minimum, the measurement should also be taken hourly during the event.
Where should the heat index measurement be taken?
The heat index measurement should be taken at the middle of the event surface.
Section 3: Activity Modification based on Heat Index Measurement
As the heat index rises, outdoor activities should be modified. The Seminole District has adopted the
modifications put forward by the Virginia High School League (VHSL). Those modifications are
indicated in the chart below.
Heat Index
105 and up
95 to 104
90 to 94
Below 89
Activity Modifications
No outside activities
No equipment during activities
Equipment removed as often as possible
Careful monitoring of all athletes
Adequate water supply at all practices and competitions, with
breaks every 20 to 30 minutes
Section 4: Prevention of Heat Illness
While not fully preventable, steps can be taken to reduce the probability of an at-risk participant
experiencing a heat related illness.
 All participants are to ensure they are fully hydrated before an event. Drinking a minimum of 10
cups of water each day helps to ensure pre-exercise hydration.
Guidelines for football players:
 The primary method of prevention is weighing in and weighing out during practice sessions
with high heat risks.
o Each football player will weigh in and out with the weight being recorded.
o The first weigh-in will be used as the baseline weight.
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o When the athlete weighs in each day, his weight must be within 1% of his baseline weight in
order to practice that day. If the football player’s weight is not within the 1% guideline of his
baseline weight, he will be held out of practice until his weight falls within the 1% loss
guideline.
o Football players will be asked to drink 24 ounces of fluids per pound loss each day.
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Our hydration goal is to have athletes lose no more than 3% of their body weight per practice, so
consistent hydration is a must.
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Urine color charts, which can easily be downloaded from athletic trainer approved websites, can
also be used as a reference. These charts will be made available for football players to check
their urine color. The urine color is an indicator of the hydration level of the athlete and not
thirst.
Section 5: Treatment Protocol for Heat Illness
In the case of an individual experiencing a heat illness, certain guidelines will be in place. Timely
treatment is vital to prevent heat illness from increasing in severity. Our proposed protocol for coaches
and directors includes the following:
 Make an initial referral to the athletic trainer for evaluation when on-site.
 Activate EMS; If athletic trainer is not present, call 911.
 If advanced heat illness (i.e., heat exhaustion or heat stroke) is present, use cold water immersion
to cool the core body temperature.
 In all heat illness cases, remove the participant from the hot environment, remove excess
clothing, begin fluid replacement, and provide close supervision.
Section 6: Return to Participation or Activity Protocol
When an individual experiences heat-related issues, athletic trainers, coaches, or directors should be
very cautious in determining when that person can resume participation. Below are guidelines to be
followed:
 An individual experiencing heat cramps will only be allowed to return the same day when the
cramps are eliminated and adequate water has been given.
 In the case of heat exhaustion, the participant will be removed from the activity for the remainder
of the day and reevaluated the next day. Parents are to be informed of the situation and informed
if a doctor’s visit is needed. If the participant is seen by a doctor, written clearance from the
doctor must be provided before the participant may return to the activity.
 Heat stroke victims will be transported by EMS. They can only return to the activity when
accompanied by a doctor’s written clearance. For the safety of the participant, the athletic
trainers and coaches reserve the right to continue to hold a participant with written clearance
from the activity if they notice any signs or symptoms that the heat illness is still present.
Section 7: Training for Parents, Coaches, and Other School Staff
 Prior to the start of fall sports or band activities, coaches, band directors, school administrators,
and other staff determined by the school administration will be required to attend training on the
signs and symptoms of heat illnesses.
 Parents will be given information on the signs and symptoms of heat illnesses as well as
proactive steps they can take with their children to limit the possibility of heat illnesses.