Takeaways from AP report on risks of rising heat for high school football players

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Since July, five players have died of suspected heat-related illnesses, including 14-year-old Semaj Wilkins, who collapsed during drills last month at his Alabama high school practice. This summer has been especially bad, with five high school players dying since July of suspected heat-related illnesses Football players are more vulnerable because they wear heavy equipment that traps heat and often have bigger bodies that produce more heat, especially offensive and defensive lineman who can weigh more than 300 pounds. One study found that high school football players are 11 times more likely to suffer heat illnesses than all other sports combined. But since taking over as coach last year, Dartez began using a wet-bulb globe temperature, instituted regular water breaks and says that if a player “tells me that he’s not feeling well, he’s lightheaded, we send him straight inside.” “I love football and I know what football has done for me, but I love my kids way more than this game,” said Dartez, speaking on a day when lightning postponed practice.