By DAVID WOOD, for The Democrat
A new law requires coaches to be trained in recognizing and preventing heat-related injuries and illnesses.
House Enrolled Act 1024, which went into effect July 1, requires interscholastic and intramural coaching staff to complete a certified heat awareness course under the Indiana High School Athletic Association.
HEA 1024 follows Senate Enrolled Act 93 in relation to Indiana athletics. Signed into law in 2011, SEA 93 mandates a similar preparedness course on concussion injuries.
Both courses are required every two years under state guidelines. However, according to Brown County Athletic Director Mark Bruner, starting this year, both courses will now be required annually for Brown County coaching staff, instead of the biannual state standard.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]“This year I started something new. It used to be required every two years, but being something that could save lives … we’re doing it every year,” he said.
“It’s just to make sure our coaches are up to speed and staying current on warning signs, what they should be looking for and that type of information.”
Under IHSAA guidelines, select sports such as football are limited to 12 practices in full padding during the summer.
The Brown County football program, headed by former NFL player Randy Minniear, takes heat prevention a step further with scheduled water breaks, cold towels and an on-hand emergency ice bath.
“It’s not the old days like when I played high school football so many years ago, when having water meant a sign of weakness. No, we understand and work very hard on our kids to hydrate constantly … especially when it’s been extremely hot like the past few weeks,” Minniear said.
“The hotter it gets, the more we give water breaks. If it’s in the high 80s to low 90s, we give them a water break and get them in the shade.”
According to both Minniear and Bruner, the water breaks are timed and automatic. One coach will carry a stopwatch and mark intervals, based on the temperature, as to when each break will take place.
On display inside the locker rooms are additional informative signs concerning heat illness symptoms, which serve as a reminder for players and coaches.
“I have tried to make sure we follow every single step and we’ve not, knock on wood, had a problem so far,” Minniear said.
In 2013, Brown County student Jacob Quackenbush, a sophomore at the time, collapsed during soccer practice and subsequently fell into a coma. He spent four months in a hospital. His parents believed the collapse was related to heatstroke.
“I think that ordeal probably brought more awareness to everybody, and I’m glad he came out OK, but I just don’t like to see something of that nature happen,” Minniear said.
“I’ve been here almost 10 years, and this school has been very good about making sure the coaches understand the protocols for heat illness and cardiac arrest,” Minniear said. “We practice good health.”
