The weather appears to be leisurely cooling down, but one Ragin’ Cajun football game questioned the mere existence of Louisiana weather.
The Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Tulane Green Wave football game premiered on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Cajun Field, and as families and friends gathered to support their teams, one problem most might not have foreseen was battling with the heat.
Heat-illnesses in late September sounds bizarre, but not in south Louisiana.
With temperatures climbing to 92 degrees Fahrenheit that day, multiple gameday spectators suffered from hyperthermia, specifically heat exhaustion.
The kickoff began at 11:08 a.m., the duration of the game lasting nearly 3.5 hours with an overwhelming attendance of 22,534 spectators.
Sergeant Lance Frederick, public information officer and training coordinator for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Police Department (ULPD), elaborated on the incidents.
The first few calls began around noon that Saturday, with an outpour of cases following afterwards.
“We have 61 recorded heat-related injuries, seven individuals were transported to local hospitals as per their request,” Frederick said.
Frederick explained that most of the incidents were related to heat exhaustion.
“They were exhausted. Most of them were fainting, some of them were passing out. Just a total lack of energy and hydration.”
“Most of the instances we have here, they were no longer sweating. That is when it is a problem.”
A number of these cases involved the UL Lafayette band. Along with the other spectators, ages ranged from around 18 to 80 years of age.
Peyton Clement, a freshman electrical engineering major who attended the game, shared his experience.
“I saw below me, there was an event staff member, she did not look like she felt well,” Clement said.
Multiple people came to check in on the individual and provide water for her, Clement explained. “Then my dad went over there, he actually does EMS, so he helped her up the steps so she can get in the shade and get some water. I saw a girl later, in a stretcher, getting taken out.”
When asked if he used the cooling station, Clement said, “No, I never heard about that; I did not go there. We did hear they ran out of water for the staff though.”
Ragin’ Cajun athletics provided a cooling station tent at the South East Gate for all guests in the stadium. A large portion of the cases followed immediate recovery after utilizing the cooling tent.
Frederick elaborated, “Most of them, we were able to get them back to where they were comfortable. Their family would get their car, and we would allow them to leave.”
The ULPD, Lafayette Fire Department, Acadian Ambulance and other law enforcement agencies were present at Cajun Field to ensure such safety and accommodation for all spectators.
The Louisiana Department of Health’s new heat-related illness data dashboard outlines that, from April 2024 until present, within Lafayette Parish, 180 visits to the emergency department–the entire state of Louisiana comprising 4,283 visits–have been for heat-related illnesses.
There have been 34 recorded heat-related deaths in Louisiana from April to August of this year.
Based on the Mayo Clinic, heat exhaustion is a medical condition within heat-related illnesses and often occurs when people are in high temperatures, either outdoors or in enclosed spaces, with increased humidity– plenty in southern Louisiana.
Physical activity in such outdoor conditions can also bring about heat illnesses.
The human body needs to maintain a certain temperature, known as the core temperature, which is typically 98.6 F. Through sweat, the body is able to cool down during extreme temperatures. However, when sweating is not enough to cool the body is usually when heat illnesses begin.
Onset of heat exhaustion is sudden and can intensify to serve forms if not promptly treated.
Common symptoms include heavy sweating, dizziness, blurred vision, fatigue, muscle cramps, headache, faintness, rapid pulse and vomiting.
Dehydration, alcohol use or overdressing can also contribute to the onset of heat exhaustion and worsen it to critical conditions. Regularly, heat exhaustion is mistaken for the more-severe heat illness, heatstroke.
Although untreated heat exhaustion will progress to a heatstroke, the presenting symptoms and physiological conditions are different.
According to MedicalNewsToday, heatstrokes–the most serious heat illness–occur when the core temperature rises beyond 104 F, causing damage to the nervous system, circulatory system, organs and muscles if not immediately treated.
Symptoms of a heatstroke differ from exhaustion in that affected individuals present with hot and dry skin, a racing heart beat, confusion, agitation, slurred speech, seizures, loss of consciousness or a coma.
Despite whether one has heat exhaustion or heatstroke symptoms, immediate action should follow. For milder heat-illnesses, moving to a shady, cooler location, drinking water or electrolytes, removing unnecessary layers of clothing or cooling the skin under running water may help relieve symptoms.
In cases of stroke symptoms, reach out to emergency services straight away; applying ice packs and cool mists until the administration of proper care is vital.
While other parts of the country have cooled down in late September, one cannot expect the same from Louisiana.
Moving into October, however, daily maximum temperatures are declining to the high 80s, with minimum temperatures around 60 F.
As Frederick stated, “This is south Louisiana, so it is a gamble on what tomorrow’s going to look like for the weather. Watching the news and seeing what the forecast is, is a huge help.”