Hazardous Heated Gyms Hinders the Health of Our Athletes
Athletes, students and coaches have concerns about the air-conditioning in the gym and fitness center.
By Kyle McLaren
Athletes, students and coaches have concerns about the air-conditioning in the gym and fitness center.
By Kyle McLaren
The main gym and fitness center both have had complaints from physical education teachers, students and athletes that their environment is uncomfortably hot. This was especially true in the first couple months of school, when temperatures still reach 100 degrees.
Because of this, athletic teams and PE classes have had to modify their activities or suffer through adverse conditions. PE teacher and weightlifting coach Evan Gividen has made modifications to his class routine, in order to prevent student discomfort and heat-related exhaustion.
“We have to modify our activity level, and we’re not in the direct sun, but it’s vastly uncomfortable. The first couple months of school are incredibly hot,” said Gividen.
Girl’s volleyball players have been concerned about the problem, as it harms their health and performance. Ellery La Fever, 12, plays outside hitter while also managing asthma. Being in a hot gym, combined with a medical condition, makes playing much harder for her.
“Using my short breaks to revive with my inhaler, the game became a much more daunting challenge than the sport already sets out to be,” said La Fever.
Asthma isn’t the only problem that arises in extreme heat, several other volleyball players have had their own health impacted.
Middle blocker Emily Feierfeil, 11, has seen her teammates suffering from exhaustion on multiple occasions.
“It’s very dangerous, and a health hazard,” said Feierfeil “We have had multiple girls pass out, throw up, and have asthma attacks due to the heat.”
Not only is asthma and heat exhaustion a concern for athletes, but for staff as well. Licensed health technician Janet Bouton wants students with the condition to be away from such a heated environment.
“I would be concerned with asthma. Most kids are aware of their symptoms and if that’s a place they should not be in, they should step out of it,” said Bouton.
These same risks apply to basketball players now that the season is underway. Boys are scheduled to play 10 games at Pioneer this season, while girls have 12. Despite playing during cooler months, indoor basketball isn’t any easier in the winter time. Point guard Madison Fujii, 12, often gets dehydrated easily, much like many of her teammates, making practices much harder.
“During practices on hot days I feel more tired and fatigued quicker,” said Fujii.
There will be some big challenges if installing new air-conditioning is possible. Student-athletes have suggested installation could be paid for through funding, due to how expensive it will be. Miguel Smurl, 11, played boy’s varsity volleyball last season, and feels that the fundraising they already do for the team could be put towards AC.
“For boys volleyball, and for girls, everyone has a goal for a fundraiser. We each have to make at least 500 dollars for each player, so I assume we could use some of that money to go towards air-conditioning,” said Smurl.
Aside from holding a fundraiser, the installation process itself is a difficult step. Rebekah Haun, 10, suggests that AC should be implemented when the gym isn’t being used as often.
“Having the installation takes a while, but it can be done over a break when there is no school,” said Haun.
If an efficient AC gets installed, athletic performance and health is bound to improve.
“Branham has air-conditioning and it makes playing in there 10 times more enjoyable,” said junior Yara Khoury, setter for girl’s volleyball.
Anyone playing indoor sports will also build greater chemistry with their teammates, because less practices would get canceled.
“The past year’s games and practices had to be canceled due to no AC being in the gym,” said girl’s volleyball head coach, Keaton Avila. “Having AC will lead to more productive practices.”
Despite the solutions and benefits, air conditioning installation is a large project. Principal Brad Craycroft knows it’s still very expensive for the district, but not impossible to do
“I know that the buildings were all built without them, and it’s super expensive to put air-conditioning into all these buildings” said Craycroft “I mean anything’s possible. This school was built in the 1960s, and they haven’t done it yet, so I don’t know that it’s on the horizon, but you never know.”
Because of this, athletic teams and PE classes have had to modify their activities or suffer through adverse conditions. PE teacher and weightlifting coach Evan Gividen has made modifications to his class routine, in order to prevent student discomfort and heat-related exhaustion.
“We have to modify our activity level, and we’re not in the direct sun, but it’s vastly uncomfortable. The first couple months of school are incredibly hot,” said Gividen.
Girl’s volleyball players have been concerned about the problem, as it harms their health and performance. Ellery La Fever, 12, plays outside hitter while also managing asthma. Being in a hot gym, combined with a medical condition, makes playing much harder for her.
“Using my short breaks to revive with my inhaler, the game became a much more daunting challenge than the sport already sets out to be,” said La Fever.
Asthma isn’t the only problem that arises in extreme heat, several other volleyball players have had their own health impacted.
Middle blocker Emily Feierfeil, 11, has seen her teammates suffering from exhaustion on multiple occasions.
“It’s very dangerous, and a health hazard,” said Feierfeil “We have had multiple girls pass out, throw up, and have asthma attacks due to the heat.”
Not only is asthma and heat exhaustion a concern for athletes, but for staff as well. Licensed health technician Janet Bouton wants students with the condition to be away from such a heated environment.
“I would be concerned with asthma. Most kids are aware of their symptoms and if that’s a place they should not be in, they should step out of it,” said Bouton.
These same risks apply to basketball players now that the season is underway. Boys are scheduled to play 10 games at Pioneer this season, while girls have 12. Despite playing during cooler months, indoor basketball isn’t any easier in the winter time. Point guard Madison Fujii, 12, often gets dehydrated easily, much like many of her teammates, making practices much harder.
“During practices on hot days I feel more tired and fatigued quicker,” said Fujii.
There will be some big challenges if installing new air-conditioning is possible. Student-athletes have suggested installation could be paid for through funding, due to how expensive it will be. Miguel Smurl, 11, played boy’s varsity volleyball last season, and feels that the fundraising they already do for the team could be put towards AC.
“For boys volleyball, and for girls, everyone has a goal for a fundraiser. We each have to make at least 500 dollars for each player, so I assume we could use some of that money to go towards air-conditioning,” said Smurl.
Aside from holding a fundraiser, the installation process itself is a difficult step. Rebekah Haun, 10, suggests that AC should be implemented when the gym isn’t being used as often.
“Having the installation takes a while, but it can be done over a break when there is no school,” said Haun.
If an efficient AC gets installed, athletic performance and health is bound to improve.
“Branham has air-conditioning and it makes playing in there 10 times more enjoyable,” said junior Yara Khoury, setter for girl’s volleyball.
Anyone playing indoor sports will also build greater chemistry with their teammates, because less practices would get canceled.
“The past year’s games and practices had to be canceled due to no AC being in the gym,” said girl’s volleyball head coach, Keaton Avila. “Having AC will lead to more productive practices.”
Despite the solutions and benefits, air conditioning installation is a large project. Principal Brad Craycroft knows it’s still very expensive for the district, but not impossible to do
“I know that the buildings were all built without them, and it’s super expensive to put air-conditioning into all these buildings” said Craycroft “I mean anything’s possible. This school was built in the 1960s, and they haven’t done it yet, so I don’t know that it’s on the horizon, but you never know.”