Heat Safety Policy

In the interest of protecting our players during unseasonably high heat/humidity conditions, SAY of Chicago has adopted the following Heat Safety Policy effective immediately. Such policy is based on a "heat index" which is widely used by outdoor sports leagues as the basis for player safety. The index is calculated based on local conditions and widely available in the media/internet and monitored on a regular basis throughout the day.

Heat Index

The Heat Index is an accurate measure of how hot it really feels when the effects of humidity are added to high temperature. The chart below illustrates various combinations of air temperature versus relative humidity. To use the chart, locate the air temperature along the top row and the relative humidity (RH) along the left column. The cell where the two intersect is the heat index. For example, an air temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 60 percent intersect at a heat index of 100 degrees. In other words, the temperature would feel like 100 degrees with this humidity/temperature combination.

Heat Index Chart (Temperature & Relative Humidity)
RH (%)	Temperature (° F)
RH (%)	90	91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	100	101	102	103	104	105
90	119	123	128	132	137	141	146	152	157	163	168	174	180	186	193	199
85	115	119	123	127	132	136	141	145	150	155	161	166	172	178	184	190
80	112	115	119	123	127	131	135	140	144	149	154	159	164	169	175	180
75	109	112	115	119	122	126	130	134	138	143	147	152	156	161	166	171
70	106	109	112	115	118	122	125	129	133	137	141	145	149	154	158	163
65	103	106	108	111	114	117	121	124	127	131	135	139	143	147	151	155
60	100	103	105	108	111	114	116	120	123	126	129	133	136	140	144	148
55	98	100	103	105	107	110	113	115	118	121	124	127	131	134	137	141
50	96	98	100	102	104	107	109	112	114	117	119	122	125	128	131	135
45	94	96	98	100	102	104	106	108	110	113	115	118	120	123	126	129
40	92	94	96	97	99	101	103	105	107	109	111	113	116	118	121	123
35	91	92	94	95	97	98	100	102	104	106	107	109	112	114	116	118
30	89	90	92	93	95	96	98	99	101	102	104	106	108	110	112	114

Policy

Heat Index under 95°	Actions: Parents should bring and provide ample amounts of water. This means water should always be available and players should take in as much water as they want. Water breaks at halftime (i.e. after 20 minutes of play); minimum 10 minutes duration. Players that want to take a break should do so at any time Watch/monitor players carefully
Heat Index 95° to 99°	Actions: Parents should bring and provide ample amounts of water. This means water should always be available and players should take in as much water as they want. Water breaks at halftime (i.e. after 20 minutes of play); minimum 10 minutes duration. Players should be rotated out every 10 minutes Any players that want to take a break should do so at any time Watch/monitor players carefully
Heat index 100° to 104°	Action: Parents should bring and provide ample amounts of water. This means water should always be available and players should take in as much water as they want. Water breaks every 10 minutes; minimum 5 minutes duration. Players should be rotated out every 5 minutes Players that want to take a break should do so at any time Watch/monitor players carefully
Heat index above 104°	Action: Game cancelled.

Given that we are a 100% parent-volunteer organization, we ask all parents to work with coaches and team managers in following the above policy. Notification will be given through our website under the same protocol as the rainouts.

Lastly, the above are meant to be general guidelines for the league. It is the responsibility of each parent to make the ultimate decision as to the participation of their child in games when heat may be a factor, taking into consideration the age and physical condition of the player. Parents also have the ultimate responsibility to inform their child about the dangers of heat and need for protection, including sunscreen and proper hydration.

Say of Chicago