The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed a heat index chart parents and coaches can use to determine when heat and humidity have reached the point where athletes are at serious risk of heat illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
("NOAA") Heat Index
Apparent Temperature | Heat Stress Risk with Physical Activity and/or Prolonged Exposure |
80° to 90° | Exercise caution; dehydration [1] likely if athlete fails to drink adequate fluids [2] |
91° to 103° |
Exercise extreme caution: Heat cramps [3] or heat exhaustion [3] possible |
104° to 124° |
Danger: Exertional heat cramps [3] or heat exhaustion [3] likely, heatstroke [3] possible |
125° and up |
Extreme Danger: Exertional Heatstroke [3] highly likely |
Note: All of the information in this article is available in a helpful iPhone application called iHydrate [4]TM, which calculates the heat index at your location and provides the heat illness risk.
Links:
[1] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/hydration-safety/heat-illnesses/dehydration-signs-and-symptoms
[2] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/hydration-safety/fluid-guidelines/hydration-for-children-in-sports
[3] https://momsteam.com/node/867
[4] http://www.mobilesportsinc.com/ihydrate.html
[5] https://momsteam.com/node/1480
[6] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/hydration-safety/when-too-hot-for-sports-depends-on-heat-index
[7] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/hydration-safety/cancel-modify-games-practices-heat-humidity
[8] https://momsteam.com/nutrition/heat-illness-cramps-exhaustion-stroke-signs-treatment
[9] https://momsteam.com/sports/football-tackle/safety/why-football-players-at-greater-risk-of-heat-illness
[10] https://momsteam.com/nutrition/sports-hydration/heat-illnesses/ten-steps-to-preventing-heat-stroke
[11] https://momsteam.com/sports/football-tackle/safety/preventing-heat-illness-during-summer-football-practice
[12] https://momsteam.com/health-safety/pre-season-heat-acclimatization-guidelines