Heat continues to be a major life safety concern at events, and we wanted to take the opportunity to advocate and educate about the risks, mitigations and culture change needed to preserve both the activity as well as the health of all participants. Danielle welcomes back Dr. Kevin Kloesel, joined by fellow meteorologist Spencer Adkins, both of whom, among other projects, forecast heat safety for Drum Corps International. Early-season collegiate and high school football games in the Southeast have already sent hundreds of fans, band members, and staff to first aid for heat, and the tragic death of a college marching band student, in which heat appears to have played a role, has made the risk even more important to highlight. Wet bulb globe temperature, not heat index, is the metric that correlates with heat illness, and there are specific thresholds are for modifying or stopping activity. From TV-driven midday kickoffs, artificial turf, tailgating, medications, body mass, and acclimatization, many things affect our susceptibility to heat illness. Mitigations can include shade and hydration as well as low-cost cooling like ice tubs, tarp "tacos," and kiddie pools that should start before paramedics arrive. Culture change such as DCI's move to later start times, which grew out of an ESA severe weather workshop, shows what planning ahead looks like and where there are opportunities for increased heat safety.
Heat continues to be a major life safety concern at events, and we wanted to take the opportunity to advocate and educate about the risks, mitigations and culture change needed to preserve both the activity as well as the health of all participants. Danielle welcomes back Dr. Kevin Kloesel, joined by fellow meteorologist Spencer Adkins, both of whom, among other projects, forecast heat safety for Drum Corps International.
Early-season collegiate and high school football games in the Southeast have already sent hundreds of fans, band members, and staff to first aid for heat, and the tragic death of a college marching band student, in which heat appears to have played a role, has made the risk even more important to highlight.
Wet bulb globe temperature, not heat index, is the metric that correlates with heat illness, and there are specific thresholds are for modifying or stopping activity. From TV-driven midday kickoffs, artificial turf, tailgating, medications, body mass, and acclimatization, many things affect our susceptibility to heat illness. Mitigations can include shade and hydration as well as low-cost cooling like ice tubs, tarp "tacos," and kiddie pools that should start before paramedics arrive. Culture change such as DCI's move to later start times, which grew out of an ESA severe weather workshop, shows what planning ahead looks like and where there are opportunities for increased heat safety.
Show Notes:
https://www.uiltexas.org/health/info/heat-stress-and-athletic-participation
https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat-illness
Zelus WBGT | https://zelusports.com/
Korey Stringer Institute | https://ksi.uconn.edu/
Contact Danielle | podcast@eventsafetyalliance.org
Guests:
Spencer Adkins | LinkedIn Television Meteorologist, West Virginia; Weather Forecaster, Drum Corps International and Bands of America
Kevin Kloesel | LinkedIn Event Safety Meteorologist, Baylor University; Chief Science Officer, Zelus WBGT
Hosts:
Danielle Hernandez (host)