News

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                  

Contact: Davis Whitfield

 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 3, 2022)— The NFHS Foundation has announced a grant program to distribute 5,000 wet bulb globe thermometers to high schools across the country. The $1.5 million program will provide schools with an important tool for minimizing heat-related illness during outdoor activities.

 

Wet bulb globe thermometers measure the heat stress in direct sunlight, accounting for temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover. High schools can use the thermometer’s reading to help determine if the weather is appropriate to hold outdoor activities.

 

“The mission of the NFHS Foundation is, in part, to fund research and programs for risk minimization, and this program certainly satisfies that,” NFHS Chief Operating Officer Davis Whitfield said. “This program is a direct distribution to schools to help ensure the health and safety of students.”

 

An initial grant was approved by the NFHS Foundation Board of Directors last fall of $450,000, but demand for the thermometers was so high that an additional distribution was approved in January to cover the purchase of 5,000 units. Approximately 2,500 thermometers will be distributed in April, with the remainder to be delivered to schools in time for late-summer workouts. The NFHS will work with its member state associations to distribute the thermometers to schools.  

 

“The NFHS Foundation Board of Directors unanimously supported these additional funds. We all felt it will more immediately assist our member schools to proactively reduce risk for our students,” said Billy Strickland, NFHS Foundation Board of Directors president and executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association.

 

Each Kestrel-made thermometer will be calibrated by geographic zone and come with a tripod and Bluetooth capability for school administrators to access the information via phone. The NFHS will also produce and provide a tutorial video – through the NFHS Learning Center – on how to operate the thermometers.

 

 

The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,000 high schools and 11 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.9 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.

 

Bruce Howard, 317-972-6900                

Director of Publications and Communications

National Federation of State High School Associations

 

Chris Boone, 317-972-6900

Assistant Director of Publications and Communications

National Federation of State High School Associations

 

Cody Porter, 317-972-6900

Manager of Media Relations

National Federation of State High School Associations

                                                  

Nate Perry, 317-972-6900

Coordinator of Media Relations

National Federation of State High School Associations