Perry Weather App helps schools follow UIL recommendations for athletes training in the summer heat

McGREGOR, Texas (KWTX) - As temperatures heat up, so are the University Interscholastic League’s recommendations for athletes training in the scorching Texas heat.

Some school districts are using the Perry Weather app, which alerts athletic departments about the heat and safety precautions staff should take depending on the school district’s heat stress policies.

McGregor ISD Athletic Trainer Chelsea Hooten said tackling the heat can be difficult for some athletes.

“Texas always brings a unique challenge when it comes to August,” said Hooten.

Hooten said this is why she appreciates the UIL having recommendations in place to ensure athletes don’t suffer from heat exhaustion while training outside.

The UIL has different guidelines depending on how high the temperature gets.

For example, if the heat reaches level yellow, that means players must have three separate breaks each hour.

Level orange requires athletes to practice for two hours with football and field hockey players being restricted to helmets and shoulder pads.

Level red means practice for one hour and level black means either no outdoor practice or delayed practices.

“It’s a protection barrier basically,” said Hooten.

An extra layer of protection is by using the Perry weather app.

Based on a school district’s guidelines, it will send automated heat stress policy alerts to your phone.

Hooten said she’s required to check the app 15 minutes before practice and 30 minutes into practice to know what type of precautions the staff needs to take.

“Everyone who is on your app system will get the same app or alert, so our middle school, our high school. All of the people get the same thing, so everyone is on the same and it’s easy to communicate, ‘Hey, what are we doing for practice today?’”

From supporting the athletes to setting up cooling stations, Hooten said it’s her job to make sure the team is as safe as possible.

She said she’s glad there’s another alternative to make sure she reaches her goal.

“It protects not only the student athletes out there and makes sure we aren’t over working them and over stressing their bodies so that they can perform at their best, but also protecting spectators and our coaching staff,” said Hooten.

Hooten said the Perry Weather app can gather data by pinging off the nearest weather station.

She explained for McGregor ISD, the nearest weather station is in Woodway, which is about 8 miles from the district.

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