From theory to practice: operationalizing a climate vulnerability for sport organizations framework for heat hazards among US High schools.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sport organizations must comprehensively assess the degree to which their athletes are susceptible to exertional heat illnesses (i.e. vulnerable) to appropriately plan and adapt for heat-related hazards. Yet, no heat vulnerability framework has been applied in practice to guide decision making. OBJECTIVES: We quantify heat vulnerability of state-level requirements for health and safety standards affecting United States (US) high school athletes as a case study. DESIGN: Observational. METHODS: We utilize a newly developed climate vulnerability to sports organizations framework (CVSO), which considers the heat hazard of each state using summer maximum wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) in combination with an 18-point heat safety scoring system (18 = best policy). Heat vulnerability is categorized as "problem" [higher heat (>27.9°C) and lower policy score (≤9)], "fortified" [higher heat (>27.9°C) and higher policy score (>9)], "responsive" [lower heat (<27.9°C) and lower policy score (≤9)], and "proactive" [lower heat (<27.9°C) and higher policy score (>9)]. RESULTS: Across the US, the mean WBGT was 28.4±2.4°C and policy score was 6.9±4.7. In combination, we observed organizations within each of the four vulnerability categories with 16% (n=8) in fortified, 16% (n=8) in proactive, 29% (n=15) in problem, and 39% (n=20) in responsive. CONCLUSIONS: The CSVO framework allowed us to identify different degrees of vulnerability among the state's and to highlight the 29% (n=15) of states with immediate needs for policy revisions. We found the CSVO framework to be highly adaptable in our application, suggesting feasibility for use with other sports governing bodies.