Mississippi high school sports officials have introduced new heat safety guidelines as the state faces intense heat conditions. The Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) now uses the WetBulb globe temperature as the standard for assessing outdoor practice safety.
Under the new policy, outdoor practices must be halted if the WetBulb globe temperature exceeds 92 degrees. This measurement considers factors such as sunlight, humidity, wind speed, and temperature, providing a more comprehensive assessment of heat stress.
“The sports medicine community has long recognized that the thermometer alone does not tell the story of heat safety, with factors like direct sunlight, humidity, wind, and air pressure playing a large role in how hot it ‘feels’ compared to what the thermometer reads,” the MHSAA said in a release.
Officials noted that the new standard is cost-effective, as school athletics personnel can download free smartphone apps to measure the WetBulb globe temperature. This eliminates the need for schools to purchase specialized equipment for weather assessments.
The MHSAA added that the WetBulb globe temperature offers a more detailed analysis of weather conditions. Unlike traditional thermometers and heat index calculations, it provides a better estimate of heat stress risk for athletes engaged in outdoor activities.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
