ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Temperatures and heat index readings are reaching dangerous levels across the St. Louis region this week as high school fall sports ramp up. Local high schools are following regulations set by the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

“The coaches have been ready for this, and they’ve been communicating with the kids about staying hydrated and making sure they do things on the front end,” Lindbergh High School Athletic Director Scott Luczak explained. “We’re limiting some practice times, and we’re taking additional water breaks and making sure that safety’s first.”

To ensure student’s safety, they measure the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT). Based on that number, they follow regulations, whether that means practice times are limited or kids have to stay inside.

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“It’s cut and dry. Here it is, and there’s the facts behind it. Give us the evidence, and that’s what we go by,” Luczak said.

Luczak takes wet bulb globe temperature readings throughout the day on the school’s various fields since the temperatures can vary based on surface type.

“Gives us a little bit reading there, so it’s not just all exactly the same across the board, but this is a little bit more accurate of where we are on campus,” he said.

Above all, safety comes first. For those outdoors, they’ll be monitored closely, and the trainers have a dunk tank nearby in case of a heat-related emergency.

“They care about their kids. They care about what’s best and they want to win. Don’t get me wrong–they’re going to try to push their kids. They want them to be tough and we don’t want kids to not be tough out on the field. But there’s a difference between being tough and just not being smart. All our coaches are smart and they’re going to take care of their kids,” Luczak said.

The players are appreciative of not having to endure the heat unnecessarily.

“We can still have many opportunities to hit and these (indoor) batting cages are a great resource for that. So we can work on our improvement on the game and we can do this inside, staying safe without the heat, instead of being out on the field,” Allison Waldron, a senior softball player, said.

Monday’s wet bulb globe temperature at Lindbergh High School ended up at 89 degrees, which meant football players could practice outside with extra water breaks, but had to be in half shells. Over 92 degrees, players would all have to stay inside.

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