05/22/2026
Heat stress doesn’t end when Heat Safety Awareness Week does.
As temperatures continue to rise, occupational heat stress remains a growing challenge across industries—impacting worker health, safety, and productivity. Yet many workplaces lack consistent, evidence-based heat safety protocols and trained medical oversight.
Athletic trainers are uniquely positioned to help fill that gap.
From prevention and emergency response to recovery and return-to-work considerations, athletic trainers bring specialized expertise that can help employers better protect their workforce in real-world environments.
In collaboration with the and , the Korey Stringer Institute contributed to newly published best practice recommendations focused on occupational heat stress management and the role of the athletic trainer in worker safety.
This post is the start of a new series where we’ll break these recommendations down into practical, easy-to-understand takeaways:
• Why heat safety matters
• The athletic trainer’s role in prevention
• Recognition and treatment strategies
• Return-to-work considerations
• What this means for employers
Because heat safety awareness should extend far beyond just one week.
