JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It has been a hot summer on the First Coast and it's expected to continue to heat up.
So, managing those who spend time outside in the heat is always a challenge, especially when it comes to school sports. But there is a new tool that could help make these decisions with the heat a bit easier.
The wet bulb globe temperature index measures direct sunlight and wind to get a better idea of what your body is feeling.
The official website on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature WBGT for short states, The WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight, which takes into account: temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover (solar radiation). This differs from the heat index, which takes into consideration temperature and humidity and is calculated for shady areas. If you work or exercise in direct sunlight, this is a good element to monitor. Military agencies, OSHA and many nations use the WBGT as a guide to managing workload in direct sunlight.
Coach Penland of University Christian Football said, "It is to keep kids safe in the high school world," adding schools use the device to decide whether or not to hold practice outside in the heat.
"There are four different levels that it gives you, if it is in the black after 92.1 you cannot do any outdoor activities until it drops," Coach Penland said.
A detailed chart for how the device works can be found below.
The device allows for the most accurate reading for students exposed to direct sunlight. Meaning, the device is different than the heat index, because it also considers the temperature in shaded areas, and doesn't use wind, cloud cover, or sun angle. In short, the device considers more what students are feeling with the heat and weather while on the field.
“We are here to keep kids safe, and by having this out there it keeps us in line to make sure everyone will be ok and to make sure everyone can give it their all, Coach Penland said. "When we are at practice, we expect our kids to go full speed, with it being this hot it gives us a barrier as to what is too hot.”
Schools that are not trained on the device or do not have this equipment are still measuring the heat index since the technology is still in a trial phase.
The goal is to keep students and staff safe during these hot days of summer.
At this site you can find more information on how to calculate the WBGT, and if you want to find more information on the local forecast please visit here.