Student-athletes have always had to balance athletic and academic schedules and navigate mental health challenges. But now there is a growing concern of heat illness as many states are experiencing extremely hot summers and warmer falls. There were 67 deaths because of heat stroke between July 1982 and June 2022, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research database.
Education Week looked at states across the nation to see how they’re preventing heat illness. For example, we looked at Georgia, a state that went from having the most heat-related deaths of student-athletes to becoming a leader on heat safety policy. We also developed a guide—based on information from leaders in heat research—to help coaches and athletic directors recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Project Leads: Sandra Stevenson, Jaclyn Borowski
Designers and videographers: Kaylee Domzalski, CJ Riculan, Yi-Jo Shen, Laura Baker, Vanessa Solis, Gina Tomko
Reporter: Jennifer Vilcarino
