Abstract
Background
Sport organizations must comprehensively assess the degree to which their athletes
are susceptible to exertional heat illnesses (i.e. vulnerable) to appropriately plan
and adapt for heat-related hazards. Yet, no heat vulnerability framework has been
applied in practice to guide decision making.
Objectives
We quantify heat vulnerability of state-level requirements for health and safety standards
affecting United States (US) high school athletes as a case study.
Design
Observational.
Methods
We utilize a newly developed climate vulnerability to sports organizations framework
(CVSO), which considers the heat hazard of each state using summer maximum wet bulb
globe temperature (WBGT) in combination with an 18-point heat safety scoring system
(18 = best policy). Heat vulnerability is categorized as “problem” [higher heat (>27.9 °C) and lower policy score (≤9)], “fortified” [higher heat (>27.9 °C) and higher policy score (>9)], “responsive” [lower heat (<27.9 °C) and lower policy score (≤9)], and “proactive” [lower heat (<27.9 °C) and higher policy score (>9)].
Results
Across the US, the mean WBGT was 28.4 ± 2.4 °C and policy score was 6.9 ± 4.7. In combination, we observed organizations within each of the four vulnerability
categories with 16% (n = 8) in fortified, 16% (n = 8) in proactive, 29% (n = 15) in problem, and 39% (n = 20) in responsive.
Conclusions
The CSVO framework allowed us to identify different degrees of vulnerability among
the state’s and to highlight the 29% (n = 15) of states with immediate needs for policy revisions. We found the CSVO framework
to be highly adaptable in our application, suggesting feasibility for use with other
sports governing bodies.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 27, 2020
Accepted:
November 17,
2020
Received in revised form:
November 10,
2020
Received:
July 23,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
