KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Extreme temperatures predicted for Monday, and even hotter temps scheduled for Tuesday, caused local school districts to take action to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Both of the now cancelled JV and Varsity soccer games against Coldwater High School were scheduled for as late at 6:30 p.m. Monday, but officials began keeping an eye on the heat index as early as 1 p.m.
Michigan’s High School Athletic Association, or MHSAA, has strict rules in placed regarding heat and humidity.
That’s something Plainwell’s Athletic Director Melissa Preston began planning for early.
“Already, we know that we’re going to be stopping during our soccer game, in the middle of each half and having a mandatory 10 minute water break,” Preston said.
Preston monitored the heat index, a calculation of both the temperature and the humidity levels, in 30 minute intervals to ensure any outdoor activity was handled per MHSAA rules.
Plans included providing athletes with more water than usual, and having cold towels and canopies available for shade.
MHSAA’s Communications Director, Geoff Kimmerly, told News Channel 3 that most athletic directors follow a protocol similar to Preston’s due to MHSAA’s focus on heat safety.
“We send this out to our schools, it’s all over our website, its accompanied by a chart where they can take the temperature and humidity and find out what the heat index is and it gives a good baseline to keep kids safe out there,” Kimmerly said.
Kimmerly added that each range of heat comes with its’ own set of safety suggestions for athletic directors to follow.
When News Channel 3 reporters visited Plainwell, the heat index was measured at around 99 degrees.
“That’s when we’re talking about amping things up in terms of hydration: still making breaks optional, but hoping people take breaks every thirty minutes, making sure towels are there,” Kimmerly said.
MHSAA guidelines extend to practices as well, with Plainwell football players practicing with limited gear during periods of extreme heat.
“They’ll have to obviously accommodate their practice for safety as far as that’s concerned, we have all those systems in place to make sure kids stay at the temperature they need to be at,” Preston said.
In the hours following News Channel 3’s visit, the heat index fluctuated between 101-106 degrees, which is 2 degrees hotter than when MHSAA requires all outdoor activities and practices to be canceled.