Recommendations for running events in hot weather

While England is not famed for its seasonally high temperatures, it is a regular occurrence that it will be warmer than 20°C with intermittent highs over 25°C being recorded. Regardless of a person’s activity level, high temperatures can have an impact on health – and for those taking part in sport (particularly endurance sport) this can be a issue. Please read our recommendations to minimise the risk to all participants, spectators, event staff and volunteers on site.

One week before the event is due to take place, the event/race director and the medical provider should review at the long-range forecast from a number of reputable weather forecasting websites. This process should be repeated daily up until the day of the event.

Looking at the real feel temperature on these websites rather than the air temperature will give a more realistic prediction of what the athletes (and those involved in managing the event), will feel on event day. It should be remembered that warm/hot weather will not only affect the participants, but also stewards, volunteers, medical team members etc.

If the Met Office has issued warnings regarding the temperature then the organisers should pay particular attention to those warnings and cancellation, postponement or alternatives to the event distance or timings should be considered.

If the long-range forecast (1 week or less) is of concern regarding the potential to cause dehydration, heat exhaustion or heat stroke then the following actions are recommended.

1. Emails sent out to all participants and information posted on the event website / social media (in advance of event day), warning of the expected hot weather, and advising people of the following:
   • To dress appropriately for the weather
   • To drink to thirst
   • To keep in the shade where possible
   • To ask for medical help if they feel unwell.
   • To not take part if they have been unwell recently.
2. Ensure that additional supplies of water are available on site for distribution.
3. Cooling fans for use at all static medical posts.
4. Plentiful supplies of ice to cool drinks and externally cooling collapsed casualties. This should be provided along with buckets, towels, and sandwich bags within Medical Tents / areas to aid cooling.
5. All mobile resources to carry ice/water to cool participants as/when required.
6. Medical team should consider performing rectal temperatures (rather than any other form of temperature measurements), on any collapsed patients, and to initiate cooling with ice and cold wet towels in anyone with a rectal temperature of 39°C or above (or 38°C and unconscious). These temperatures will require checking every 15 minutes until normal, or arrival at hospital (if required).
7. Consider reducing the intensity of the pre- start warm up to more of a “stretch” based warm up rather than a cardiovascular warm up.
8. Look at the feasibility of adding misting stations along the course route.
9. Consider reducing the course distance, re-routing the course through more shaded areas where possible, or starting the event at a cooler time if possible.
10. Preplan potential course cuts to implement if the number of casualties becomes overwhelming to the medical team/local NHS services.
11. Volunteers positioned at the finish should be well briefed to encourage participants to go and cool off in the shade upon completion of the race. They should also be advised to shade any casualties (who cannot move) on the course until medical support arrives.
12. In the case of extreme warm weather predictions (heatwave), the event shall ensure adequate shelter from the sun is provided in the start area for both spectators and participants.
13. During the event, the medical provider shall monitor the temperature hourly using a wet bulb globe thermometer and update the event team on the results and casualty figures whenever possible. Note: Wet bulb globes can be purchased freely on the internet from a number of sources.
14. For every rise in the predicted real feel temperature above 25°C, an increase of first aiders should be considered.
15. For predicted temperatures of 28°C and above an additional blue light capable ambulance should be added to the medical provision.
16. Add an additional paramedic to the medical provision if the temperature is over 28°C (real feel), and by 2 if the temperature is over 30°C (real feel).