With triple digit temperatures lingering into September, officials are tasked with making sure high school football players can compete safely.
Phoenix recently broke the record for the most days in a year with temperatures of at least 110-degrees.
To keep players from overheating, schools monitor athlete conditions in real time and are ready with cooling therapies when a player starts to show signs of heat-related illness.
Arizona Interscholastic Association Executive Director David Hines said before the season started, they eased players into their uniforms.
“They are required to have three days of practice in only helmets, three additional days with helmets and shoulder pads, before they can get into full pads," Hines said.
Cooling therapies could be anything from an ice bath to a garbage can with water and ice. Hines added that coaches also encourage frequent water breaks.
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Extreme heat is gripping much of Arizona this weekend, prompting warnings from the National Weather Service and public health officials. -
CASS and Keys to Change held a water drive last weekend, but say they only received a fraction of what is needed for the summer. -
The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for Maricopa County Saturday through Monday. Highs are expected to climb above 110 degrees. -
Across the Valley, nonprofit organizations are preparing for the extreme temperatures with heat relief programs and service accommodations. -
Officials are urging Arizonans to take precautions to avoid pavement burns this summer. Health care providers in the state have seen a steep uptick in these injuries over the last few years.
