Eleven Mississippi high school band members were taken to hospital due to heat-related illnesses contracted during band camp.
Officials from the Tupelo Public School District confirmed that members of the Tupelo High School band were taken to a Tupelo hospital last week during band camp. The band camp is organized to get members ready for the upcoming football season. Tupelo Public School District Superintendent Rob Picou stated that the band administration had previously implemented safety steps to address the weather circumstances.
As a precaution, all eleven students were taken to the hospital and evaluated before being cleared and discharged.
The Mississippi High School Activities Association requires the use of the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) to assess the safety of outdoor activities, including band.