As the climate warms, young athletes face growing risks of heat illness – especially in communities without air-conditioned practice spaces.
From Little League tournaments to preseason football practices, young athletes often play outside on hot summer days. And as the climate warms, they’re increasingly at risk of heat-related illness.
Jessica Murfree , an assistant professor of exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says kids in some communities are more vulnerable than others.
The dangers are often greatest in cities, because concrete and asphalt absorb heat.
Murfree: “We can experience much higher temperatures in these areas than others that have more green spaces.”
And she says youth sports teams often lack resources to help keep kids safe, like cold water immersion tubs to use in an emergency or professional athletic trainers who are experts in player safety.
Murfree: “Their presence alone can be such a luxury, and not every child has access to those things.”
In low-income areas, teams may also lack access to air-conditioned buildings, so they cannot move inside on extremely hot days.
So Murfree says it’s important for coaches and families to be aware of the risks of extreme heat and take steps to keep all young athletes safe.