JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Zachary Martin Polsenberg died of heat stroke from football practice last year in Fort Myers. His father James is making sure that doesn’t happen again to other youth in Florida through education on heat illnesses and efforts to equip players with devices that can quickly cool their overheated bodies.
James and his wife Claudine donated a shoulder pad cooling system to Robert E. Lee High School last week.
“They get peak performance, but it’s more about safety of the student athlete,” he explained.
The Polsenbergs are also trying to get Zach’s Law passed in Tallahassee, which would mandate a cold water immersion tub at all practices and games, as well as the use of Wet Bulb Globe Thermometers for “feels like” temperature readings.
“We are just trying to get it introduced to the high school (athletic) association.”
The law would apply to all scholastic sports, not just high school football.
“We want to protect all the players, all the kids if we can.” he said.