BRANDON, Mississippi — The month of August means the start of high school football in many parts of the country. But it’s one of the hottest and, sometimes, most humid times of the year. And it’s only getting worse with climate change.That makes it a dangerous time for players to put on the pads and this year has been especially deadly on several practice fields. 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.Here are some takeaways from AP’s reporting on high school football and the hazards of heat:Fifty-eight players have died from exertional heatstroke between 1992 and 2024, according to the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, and thousands more are sickened each year. This summer has been especially bad, with five high school players dying since July of suspected heat-related illnessesFootball 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. They also may not be used to working out in summer conditions, and they sometimes play on artificial turf that increases the heat.Another driver of these deaths is the culture of football, where coaches have long drilled into players the idea of playing through pain and pushing through adversity. That’s starting to change, but too many high schools still lack necessary equipment and protocols that experts say can reduce heat-related illnesses and prevent deaths.One study found that high school football players are 11 times more likely to suffer heat illnesses than all other sports combined. Most heat-related illnesses are preventable but only if the right policies are followed by coaches. Too many states lack policies that lay out …
