All schools will be required to use a wet bulb globe thermometer to determine safe conditions for practice or competition during times of high heat and humidity. The goal of every high school administrator, coach and the sports medicine team is to allow their athletes to participate safely and injury free. Sports provide an opportunity for competition, teamwork, dealing with success and adversity and most importantly to develop a framework for future successes. Sport injuries are an inherent risk of athletic participation. Heat illness is one of the most preventable conditions.
A WBGT device is a measurement tool that uses ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind and solar radiation from the sun to get a measure that can be used to monitor environmental conditions during exercise. Establishing WBGT guidelines that dictate modifications in activity (work/rest ratios, hydration breaks, equipment worn, length of practice) at given WBGT temperatures play a huge factor in helping to prevent Exertional Heat Stroke. As environmental temperature and humidity increase, there is an increase in the heat stress that is placed on the exercising individual. Exercise in the heat causes athletes to rely on evaporation of sweat from the skin as the primary method of dissipating heat that is produced by the working muscles. As humidity increases, the ability to dissipate heat through evaporation is further hindered, thus causing the body to have an increased body temperature, which increases the risk of Exertional Heat Stroke.
The following list of instruments and web sites is a reference or starting point for schools. First, this is not an exhaustive list – there are other units on the market that are functional and affordable. Secondly, there should not be any assumption that the SCISA is recommending or endorsing any particular instrument.
Kestrel has a good reputation, but a little expensive. (you get what you pay for)
https://kestrelmeters.com/collections/all-kestrel-meters
These others seem to work fine and are easy to use.
https://www.medco-athletics.com/deluxe-wbgt-temperature-index-monitors#sin=37698
Sling Psychrometers are a much cheaper option, but can be more difficult to operate.
https://www.google.com/search?rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-US%3AIE-SearchBox&ei=rZUVW8uROYSCsQXUjoTICw&q=sling+psychrometer&oq=sling+psychrometer&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0i67k1j0l2j0i67k1l2j0l5.2701.3440.0.4192.6.6.0.0.0.0.94.378.5.5.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.5.373...0i22i30k1.0.Wd00rtmnByQ
