A 15-year-old Kansas high school student named Ovet Gomez-Regalado passed away two days after suffering a medical emergency during a football practice. This is the third reported case of a high school football-related death in the U.S. this week. The Johnson County Med-Act responded to a call at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Shawnee, Kansas, where Gomez-Regalado was in critical condition and later passed away. The school district and community are mourning his loss, with steps being taken to provide support to students and staff. Experts warn of the dangers of heat-related deaths among athletes, particularly during the summer months, and emphasize the importance of athletes speaking up if they are feeling unwell during practice. A GoFundMe account has been created to support Gomez-Regalado’s family. This tragic incident adds to the list of at least 77 heat-related deaths among athletes since 2000, with July and August being the deadliest months. Despite efforts to track and prevent such incidents, experts note that many heat-related deaths are underreported in the U.S. due to a lack of awareness surrounding the circumstances leading to hospitalization or death.
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