Schools and Student-Athletes Take Precautions Amid Heat Advisory in Cincinnati

CINCINNATI — As high temperatures approach, much of Greater Cincinnati is under a heat advisory starting Tuesday morning. In response to the extreme heat, several school districts and athletic programs are making adjustments to ensure the safety of students and athletes.

Early Releases and Event Postponements

At least one school district is planning to release students early this week to mitigate the effects of the heat. Sporting events and other outdoor activities across the region are also being rescheduled or postponed. The extreme heat poses significant challenges, especially for student-athletes, and there is no statewide mandate for safe temperature thresholds, leaving it to individual athletic departments to make the call.

“It's hard on us to make these calls,” said Lauren White, an athletic trainer at Taylor High School. “We want to see our kids playing and competing, but their health and safety is number one.” White monitors the temperature on the turf field every 30 minutes, noting that the afternoon readings have been over 90 degrees and are expected to rise further.

Impact on Youth Sports and Outdoor Activities

The extreme heat has already led to the cancellation of youth sports practices and various outdoor events. White explains, “They are inside air conditioning more than they are outdoors in this heat. To put them under the strenuous conditions of a full football or soccer practice, their bodies just aren't prepared to handle that.” With the expected high temperatures, there is an increased risk of heat exhaustion and stroke among student-athletes. Adjustments to schedules, while inconvenient, are deemed necessary to prevent heat-related emergencies.

School District Responses

The Oak Hills School District has announced that students at Oak Hills High School, Delhi Middle School, and Bridgetown Middle School will be released two hours early from Tuesday through Friday. This decision is due to some of the district's buildings not being fully air-conditioned. Meanwhile, Cincinnati Public Schools, which has air-conditioned facilities, is monitoring temperatures daily to make informed decisions about school operations.

“You can still have heat exhaustion and work your way up to heatstroke when you're inside in conditions like that,” White cautioned. “If there's not enough air, not enough circulation, you can definitely still suffer some of the same symptoms.”

Adjustments to Athletic Schedules

In response to the heat, the Lakota West versus Hamilton football game scheduled for Friday night has been rescheduled to start at 8:05 p.m. to avoid the peak heat of the day.

Keywords: Schools, student-athletes, heat advisory, Cincinnati, Taylor High School, Oak Hills School District, Cincinnati Public Schools, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, athletic precautions