Gamecocks’ heat, safety procedures are ‘the Cadillac version’
The University of South Carolina goes to great lengths to prevent, and prepare in case of, emergency situations during its football practices, but Gamecocks head athletics trainer Clint Haggard realizes not everyone is capable of such a comprehensive approach.
“Ours is kind of the Cadillac version,” said Haggard, who is in his eighth season at South Carolina. “Don’t be thinking that a lot of high schools can do that. Obviously, we have a lot more resources than a lot of other people do.”
Safety procedures at football practices have come under scrutiny in the Midlands after a 14-year-old football player at River Bluff High died after collapsing during a Wednesday evening practice.
The Gamecocks are one of a handful of colleges that give every athlete an EKG as part of their twice-annual physicals. If any issues are found on the EKG, the athlete receives an echocardiogram. South Carolina’s physicals also include a complete blood panel.
The heat is one of the biggest enemies in the South. The Gamecocks monitor practice conditions using a wet bulb globe thermometer, which measures heat, humidity, wind and sun to come up with a comprehensive reading. The wet bulb thermometer on South Carolina’s practice field is hooked via Bluetooth to Haggard’s cell phone, and the team doesn’t take the practice field if the reading is above 92.
“Hydration is a big part of it,” Haggard said. “Coach (Will Muschamp) does a good job of that, taking breaks.”
When the Gamecocks practice outdoors, they take a mid-practice break under two tents on the practice field that have air conditioning, misting fans and ice tanks for players to dunk their arms and faces to cool off.
“We have fluids available for our guys basically everywhere they turn around here, both water and Gatorade and other products,” Haggard said. “They literally can’t turn around without being able to touch a cooler with fluids in it.”
USC trainers also circulate during practice handing out iced towels to players and misting players with backpack sprayers full of ice water.
In case of emergency, USC has a cold tub and iced IV bags ready in its indoor facility, along with “a full array of emergency equipment, almost like an ambulance would have, at our disposal,” Haggard said. A team physician attends “99 percent of our practices,” Haggard said.