Students, Coaches Navigate Extreme Heat During School Activities

Students participating in activities like athletics and marching band are practicing in the heat ahead of the new school year. Teachers and coaches are doing their best to keep students safe in the brutal temperatures.

A breeze passed through band practice at Owasso High School early Wednesday morning, but it didn’t bring relief for very long. The band practices five days a week, getting ready for a busy calendar filled with Friday football games and marching competitions.

“We’re just always looking out for each other,” said Hailey Mansard, a junior in the band. “Breaks are totally OK. That’s what we do here.”

Mansard is a drum major, taking on more responsibility beyond music and marching.

“I conduct in front of the band,” she said. “That’s my primary job, but I also make sure that everybody’s doing good, feeling good.”

To beat the heat, band directors design practice to start about sunrise and they wrap up the outdoor portion before the worst of the heat.

“In the morning, less of a concern for heat stroke,” said Shawn O’Kelley, associate director of the band. “You’ve got to constantly be monitoring, we really encourage the kids to report that to us if they’re feeling bad.”

O’Kelley says students bring jugs of water and take frequent breaks. He preaches the importance of hydrating and getting a good breakfast.

A similar message will be taught on the football field when practice starts next week.

“What we find with our kids is, if they’re not getting enough sleep at night, they’re definitely more prone to some kind of heat illness during practice,” said Zach McGinty, athletic trainer.

Leaders also use an app monitoring temperatures, the heat index, and heat stress to the body. This gives them the chance to change their plans quickly if conditions start to get too extreme for students.