High temperatures and humidity at Saturday’s 10 a.m. contest in Tiger Stadium caused an increase in heat-related health incidents, according to Acadian Ambulance operations supervisor Martin Lustig.Temperatures hovered in the high 80s and low 90s while the humidity registered near 50 percent. Heat index reports showed the temperature felt around 100 degrees.Eddie Nunez, an associate athletic director who manages LSU football games, estimated around 50 to 60 fans were treated for heat-related symptoms. But Nunez the number of fans transported to the hospital, about seven to eight, was average.The game, originally scheduled for 4 p.m., was moved to a 10 a.m. start time because of safety and evacuation concerns about Hurricane Gustav.”This is the most heat incidents we’ve had in many years,” Lustig said. “It was way too many.”Lustig said the 2003 daytime game against Georgia produced a similar number of incidents.—-Contact Amy Brittain at [email protected]
Early gametime fosters heat-related incidents
August 29, 2008