Once the contest begins the assigned contest officials are responsible for making decisions to suspend or interrupt a contest due to unsafe weather conditions. While the final burden lies with the contest officials, it is highly recommended that host site administration and contest officials work together when making any determinations to suspend play and use any and all available information in doing so. On-site medical professionals and athletic trainers should also be consulted and included in the decision making process. When in doubt, err on the side of safety.

Wichita Falls Independent School District Weather Policies

Perry Weather

The athletic training staff at each high school is responsible for setting up and maintaining the Perry Weather System.

• Each system will monitor the high school, middle school, and all game fields at Memorial Stadium.

• Every coach should receive real time information via text or through notifications from the Perry Weather app, concerning lightning strikes, severe weather alerts, and ‘all clear’ notifications.

• Please use this information to make responsible decisions regarding student safety.

Heat Stress and Athletic Participation

Why is it important to care about WBGT?

The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) takes into account ambient temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle, direct sunlight and cloud coverage. The WBGT is considered the gold standard for assessing environmental heat stress during physical activity.  

Early fall football, cross country, tennis, and volleyball practices, games, matches, and meets are conducted in very hot and humid weather. During hot weather conditions, the athlete is subject to the following:

• Heat Cramps: Painful cramps involving abdominal muscles and extremities caused by intense, prolonged exercise in the heat and depletion of salt and water due to sweating.

• Heat Syncope: Weakness, fatigue and fainting due to loss of salt and water in sweat and exercise in the heat. Predisposes to heatstroke.

• Heat Exhaustion (Water Depletion): Excessive weight loss, reduced sweating, elevated skin and core body temperature, excessive thirst, weakness, headache, and sometimes unconsciousness.

• Heat Exhaustion (Salt Depletion): Exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness due to profuse sweating and inadequate replacement of body salts.

• Heat Stroke: Nausea, seizures, disorientation, and possible unconsciousness or coma. It may occur suddenly without being preceded by any other clinical signs. The individual is usually unconscious with a high body temperature and hot dry skin. (Heat Stroke victims, contrary to popular belief, may sweat profusely)

Cooling Zones must be available for each outdoor athletic and marching band contest, practice, workout, or conditioning session that is held in wet bulb globe temperatures of 82.2 degrees or higher. Cooling Zones are required to have immediate availability of cold-water immersion tubs or tarps that can be filled with ice and water and wrapped around individuals to rapidly cool internal body temperature (TACO method) and are encouraged to include a combination of the following options: ice sponges, towels, water misters, and shade. The presence of an employee trained to administer cold-water immersion is recommended.

Heat Stroke is a Medical Emergency and any delay could be fatal. Follow these steps to initiate emergency treatment: Remove all equipment & excess clothing, Cool the athlete as quickly as possible (within 15 minutes of the emergency) into a whole body ice water immersion tub (water approx 35-38 degrees F), Maintain the airway, breathing and circulation, After cooling has been initiated, activate EMS by calling 9-1-1. Cool the body prior to transporting the athlete via EMS (when core body temp is below 102). If possible the cooling station should be set up in a shaded, cool area. If a tub is unavailable, the athlete should be taken to a shaded, cool area, and the use of rotating cold wet towels to cover as much as the body surface as possible. If an athletic trainer is present, the monitoring of vitals such as, rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and monitoring the CNS status will be their responsibility. Exertional heat stroke has had a 100% survival rate when immediate cooling (via full body cold water immersion) was initiated within 10 minutes of collapse. 

Heat Exhaustion - Obtain Medical Care at Once. Cool body as you would for heat stroke while waiting for transfer to hospital. Give fluids if the athlete is able to swallow and is conscious.

Heat Safety Protocol for all WFISD Schools Participating in UIL Activities

All WFISD schools and visiting schools participating in WFISD sanctioned events will be expected to follow this heat safety protocol. Varsity competition postponement or cancellation will be considered on a case by case basis. All other events will strictly follow this heat safety protocol. It is the responsibility of the athletic trainer to notify coaches of current weather conditions. Specific heat conditions will determine activity restrictions during practice, games, matches, and meets.

Cold Safety Protocol for all WFISD Schools Participating in UIL Activities

Why is it important to care about wind chill?

Lower wind chill increases the rate at which certain cold-weather injuries, such as frostbite and hypothermia can develop. Precautions we can take to avoid cold-weather injuries in extreme weather are wearing proper clothing, using proper equipment, and checking regularly for wet or cold areas on your body, and signs of danger, while outside in extreme weather rewarming body parts as needed precautions.

Practices, games, matches, and meets can be conducted in very cold weather. During extreme, prolonged, exposure to cold weather conditions, the athlete is subject to the following:

• Mild Hypothermia: Involuntary shivering and inability to perform complex motor functions

• Moderate Hypothermia: Slurred speech, violent shivering, dazed consciousness, irrational behavior, and/or loss of fine motor coordination

• Severe Hypothermia: Pupils are dilated, skin is pale, pulse rate decreases, and muscle rigidity develops.

• Frostnip: superficial skin is frozen. Tissues are not permanently damaged.

• Frostbite:

• Mild -  Dry, waxy skin Erythema Edema Transient tingling or burning sensation Skin contains white or blue-gray colored patches Affected area feels cold and firm to the touch Limited movement of affected area

• Severe -  Skin is hard and cold Skin may be waxy and immobile Skin color is white, gray, black, or purple Vesicles present Burning aching, throbbing, or shooting pain Poor circulation in affected area Progressive tissue necrosis Neurapraxia Hemorrhagic blistering develops within 36 to 72 hours Muscle, peripheral nerve, and joint damage likely

All WFISD schools and visiting schools participating in WFISD sanctioned events will be expected to follow this cold weather safety protocol. Varsity competition postponement or cancellation will be considered on a case by case basis. All other events will strictly follow this cold weather safety protocol. It is the responsibility of the athletic trainer to notify coaches of current weather conditions. Specific cold weather conditions will determine activity restrictions during practice, games, matches, and meets.

If school is canceled due to weather, no extracurricular activities are allowed (practices or games). If school is delayed, practices and games may take place in the evening.

Lightning Safety Protocol for all WFISD Schools Participating in UIL Activities

All WFISD schools and visiting schools participating in WFISD sanctioned events will be expected to follow this lightning safety protocol. Specific lightning conditions will determine activity restrictions during practice, games, matches, and meets.

Procedures during outdoor practices

1. During practice, the head coach and athletic trainer is responsible for making the decision whether or not to suspend practice

1. This decision should not be taken lightly since with responsibility goes accountability.

2. When in doubt, seek shelter. 

2. Each campus must develop a protocol for monitoring forecasts and warning. A coach or athletic trainer should be the designated “weather watcher”.

3. If athletic trainers are present, they should monitor the weather and provide input/advice.

4. Avoid being the highest point in an open field, in contact with, or proximity to the highest point. Do not take shelter under or near trees, flagpoles, or light poles.

5. If practice is suspended, you MUST wait at least thirty minutes following the last lightning strike prior to resuming an activity or returning outdoors. 

6. If necessary, follow normal campus emergency procedures.

Procedures during outdoor games

1. The decision to suspend a game lies in the hands of the game officials. Most officials seek input from the game administrators, athletic director, coaches, and athletic trainers. 

2. Once a game is suspended by lightning, you MUST wait thirty minutes following the last lightning strike before resuming play

Basic first aid for victims of a lightning strike

1. Notify local EMS

2. Lightning victims do not “carry a charge” and are safe to touch.

3. If necessary, move the victim with care to a safer location. 

4. Evaluate airway, breathing, and circulation and begin CPR if necessary

5. Evaluate and treat hypothermia, shock, fractures, and/or burns

Definitions

Safe shelter

1. A safe location is any substantial, frequently inhabited building. The building should have four solid walls (not a dugout), electrical/telephone wiring and plumbing, all of which aid in grounding a structure.

2. The secondary choice for a safer location from the lightning hazard is a fully enclosed vehicle with a metal roof and the windows completely closed. It is important to not touch any part of the metal framework of the vehicle while inside it during ongoing thunderstorms.

3. It is not safe to shower, bathe, or talk on landline phones while inside a safe shelter during thunderstorms (cell phones are ok). 

Injuries

All injuries should be assumed serious until determined otherwise. Each campus should have a written plan for dealing with serious and/or catastrophic injuries. If there is an athletic trainer, or physician available, he/she should be responsible for determining the seriousness of an injury, not the coach. When an athlete is injured, the coach or athletic trainer shall complete the athlete injury form. It is imperative that detailed records of injuries and treatments be kept. When notifying parents, always remember WFISD does not pay medical bills or claims.