With a heat index that felt as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit during the month of August, students, athletes and teachers are still being affected by the heat wave.
Athletes had to switch to indoor workouts. Band students and cheerleaders had to take extra precautions to stay hydrated. Family, friends and community members across the state were struggling to stay cool.
“The US National Weather Service issued repeated excessive heat warnings and advisories covering millions of people,” according to the World Meteorological Organization.
For track athletes, the heat wave limited what the first two weeks of school looked like. They couldn’t work outside because the state wouldn’t allow them to. After two weeks without outdoor practice, Tony Roller, track and field coach, expressed that he prefers practices in the heat for his team.
“Your muscles work more efficiently when you’re heated up. Cold weather is hard to get warmed up in and it’s just miserable,” said Roller.
The fluctuation and change in the weather is not only changing everyone’s daily lives, but also their physical health. Exposure to abnormal heat conditions can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and hyperthermia. Spending too much time in the heat can cause people to sweat too much and lead to dehydration.
“It gets really hot,” said Emalee Randall, 12. “One time I had a heat stroke and passed out.”
Teachers have also experienced physical issues with this past heat wave.
“By the third day with no air in my classroom I went home and I realized my feet and my ankles had swollen up,” said Beth Hall, Theater teacher. “It’s only happened to me one other time in my life, when I was walking around 14 hours in the city.”
Extreme heat can affect everyone regardless of their lifestyle.
“It hasn’t impacted me much. I’ve been in the heat all summer. I’m very well acclimated to it,” Roller said. I like extreme summers and winters.
However, athletes think otherwise about this past heatwave. Track athletes have had a hard time practicing in the arena. Some are afraid that they aren’t able to run properly indoors.
“It was hard to achieve the same grip on the basketball arena floors as we can on the track outside,” said Randall.
With this heat wave students and teachers are adjusting to stay hydrated and healthy. Dehydration has been a big issue during the heat wave causing people to pass out and vomit. Athletes and coaches were trying to drink electrolytes and plenty of water to help them stay healthy.
“When I am working in the heat I drink a ton of water and a bunch of Gatorade,” Roller said.
