Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.
Did you know extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related death in the U.S.?
Young athletes are on the frontlines. As extreme heat cancels practices and games across the country, families are confronting the reality that climate change is shaping childhood today.
Parents care deeply about their children’s health and safety, but many do not have the information or confidence they need to recognize heat risks and respond early. The encouraging news is that heat-related illness is often preventable when adults and young people understand the risks and know what to do.
About Play It Cool
Play It Cool harnesses the power of sports, storytelling, and trusted messengers to help families keep kids safe as extreme heat increasingly affects youth sports and outdoor play. The campaign is built around three simple actions:
Speak Up: Tell an adult when you feel unwell (dizziness, cramping, nauseous, short of breath), notice symptoms in a teammate, or think the heat is becoming unsafe.
Sit Out: Taking a break is a sign of strength. No practice, game, or drill is worth risking a child’s health.
Cool Down: Move to a cooler place, remove unnecessary equipment, and begin cooling immediately (use cold towels, ice packs) when someone shows signs of heat illness.
Our goal is to make youth heat safety as familiar as knowing to “Stop, Drop, and Roll”.
Play It Cool is being developed in collaboration with leaders across sports, health, and media, including partners such as Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Moms Clean Air Force, love.fútbol, 160over90, Known, and Home of Football. By bringing together trusted voices and organizations that reach children, parents, coaches, and communities, Play It Cool can help make simple, protective actions part of everyday sports culture.Read more about the launch here.
The Lorax Joins the Team
To introduce the campaign, Play It Cool is premiering a social media public service announcement featuring Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax alongside athletes Robin Arzón and Napheesa Collier, created in partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises.
The PSA series uses the power of storytelling to help children and families remember three simple actions that can keep young athletes safer in the heat:
Speak up. Sit out. Cool down.
Help Keep Kids Safely in the Game
Whether you are a parent, coach, athlete, league leader, storyteller, brand, or community organization, you can help make youth heat safety a new social norm.
