Local

Players take caution as football season heats up

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — As Georgia High School football season is about to kick off, medical crews are expecting to keep a close watch on any signs of heat stress during local games.

Parents and fans making their way to stadiums as the high school kicked off  did so in blazing heat and beating sunshine Friday night.

Paramedics fear when the game kicks off, some of the fans will still be sitting in the sun.

“We're going to be providing medical services to most of the football games in this area,” said Dennis Westoverwith MetroAtlanta Ambulance.

Stadiums will have paramedics on hand, both for the players and spectators.

“Well certainly, we’re going to get them to stop any activity, cool them off. Hydration is definitely a key to keeping yourself from getting into a more serious medical situation,” Westover said.

And it’s not just the heat and humidity it’s the sunshine as well.

Channel 2's Ross Cavitt used an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature on the sidewalk in Cobb County which registered 129 degrees.

High Schools are required to measure all these factors to determine if players can even practice in their pads. Above a certain reading, outdoor practice is prohibited altogether.

But when the players take the field, the medics on hand will likely spend time worrying more about the fans in the stands many of whom won’t come prepared.

“Well they’ve become complacent because we’ve had such a mild summer, but there’s still danger in the heat,” Westover said.

Meteorologist Brad Nitz said temperatures reached as high as 99 degrees in LaGrange on Friday afternoon.

Nitz said to expect very sunny and hot weather again on Saturday with the possibility of a few showers.

Rain chances increase on Sunday and temperatures will return to the 80s.

Get Brad's weekend forecast and the timing of potential rain on the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11.