August is one of the hottest months of the year in Jacksonville. The heat index or "feels-like" temperatures often reach triple digits and remain that way for hours each day.
Every public high school in Duval, St. Johns and Clay counties has a certified athletic trainer assigned to that school. One is also assigned to junior high schools in Clay.
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These athletic trainers use special equipment to measure how hot it is outside before practice starts to avoid student-athletes overheating.
We're now seeing that equipment used to determine when it's safe, and for how long student-athletes can be permitted to exercise outside.
Wet bulb globe temperature meter
All certified athletic trainers in the three counties use a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Meter to determine if it is safe for student-athletes to practice outside.
The meter measures five weather factors: the temperature in direct sunlight, humidity, the angle of the sun, wind speed and cloud cover.
Jerry Stevens, Supervisor of District Sports Medicine for Duval County Public Schools, said each trainer uses the WBG meter 30 minutes before practice starts. If the measurement it reads is too high, then all outdoor practices are modified.
On the day he demonstrated it for us, it read 86.7.
"Most people think that number is the temperature, but it's not, it's the wet bulb globe temperature," he explained.
"Based on the chart that we follow, then we modify," said
Stevens said that they follow a chart and based on the reading of the device, they'll modify practices to follow rest break guidelines established by the National Athletic Trainers' Association and adopted by the Florida High School Athletic Association.
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For example, a reading of 86.7, "means we are in the yellow zone," said Stevens.
"We're going to notify the coaches that we're going to cut, limit your time. Normally, you're allowed three hours, we're going to go two hours today," explained Stevens.
Depending on the WBG reading, student-athletes may have a shorter outside practice, their equipment may be modified, like helmets and pads, or they may not be allowed to practice outside at all that day. The rules apply to any outside practice, not just football.
Water breaks
Student-athletes are also required to be given water breaks.
"It's not only school board policy (in Duval County); it's also part of FHSAA policy," said Stevens, referring to the Florida High School Athletic Association. "Probably about every 15 minutes in a three-hour practice."
Large containers of cold water are provided to the athletes, as well.
Stevens showed News4JAX a "water cow," which holds at least 35 gallons of cold water. There are several lines with handles attached that allow as many as six athletes at one time to drink water.
"So when they get their water break, they can come up, they hit this, it's battery operated. The cold water comes out," he demonstrated.
Cold water immersion tub
Athletic trainers set up cool zones for athletes playing outside. These zones include a shade tent and a cold water immersion tub.
"It's a big Rubbermaid 150-gallon tub," demonstrated Stevens, who explained how water and ice are added to the tub.
Athletes who appear to be exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion are submerged in the tub up to their shoulders.
"And then we have a towel around here so that we can hold them up because if they were to go unconscious and it's a 300-pound linebacker, it's gonna be difficult to hold them up," he said.
Stevens said the tub is also used as a precaution and is available to all athletes.
Clay County public schools said it also uses the cold water immersion tubs as part of its heat exhaustion prevention policy.
CPR/AED
All certified athletic trainers are trained in CPR and AED use. The state legislature recently passed a law that requires all paid coaches to also receive the training.
The certified athletic trainers assigned to Duval and St. Johns public high schools have direct access to at least one AED on campus.
The Clay County public school district told News4JAX that all 13 of its secondary schools, junior and high schools, have at least one AED and that all of its paid coaches are trained in its use and in CPR, as well as First Aid.
Other school districts
We reached out earlier this week to the Nassau County and Baker County public school districts asking if they have certified athletic trainers assigned to their schools, where they are assigned, if they have AEDs on campus, and if their coaches are trained in CPR and AED use.
We are waiting to hear back.