vvbones

Do we need the death of a child to finally make us realize the threat of the heat that many witnessed during the LSU - UCLA football game? And with such a needless, hapless, and useless death - then LSU Tiger Stadium will truly be Death Valley.

I have serious concerns about our fans who were sweltering near the brink of potentially life-threatening heat related illnesses. I’m simply trying to prevent a death in Tiger Stadium before someone’s child or elder dies because of “a day game” and for what, of all things “money” in the oppressive heat during the days in South Louisiana ever so creeping on into October, and possibly November.

I am Vincent Valentine, MD, a native of Louisiana, graduate of Catholic High 1979, of LSU Baton Rouge 1983, of LSU Medical School, New Orleans, 1987, Internal Medicine Trained Charity Hospital New Orleans via LSU - specializing in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Lung Transplantation with Training at Stanford University Medical Center in California - completed 1994, now at Houston Methodist Hospital.

I remain a supporter of CHS and LSU, especially an ardent supporter of LSU sports.

I came to the LSU - UCLA game this weekend on 9/21/2024 with my family, grandsons and their friends. The last LSU - UCLA game I recall was when LSU and Pistol Pete lost to UCLA and John Wooden 133-84.

What I witnessed at the LSU - UCLA game on the East Side of the stadium has me gravely and distressingly concerned.

I’ve heard of over 70 or so Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responses for heat related issues.

My cousin with the fire department made me aware of the firemen on duty this weekend who usually can enjoy some of the games- were unable to see anything because their attention was drawn to the heat related calls.

I personally observed dozens of fans escaping from the heat for a respite in the shade near the concessions and bathrooms.

Most horrifically, an adult rushed in front of me carrying his nearly unconscious son - which drew me out of the concessions line for my own drink of water and relief from the heat to tend to this unconscious child.

I managed this 9 year old boy for 20 minutes with the help of many others… gently icing him down and cooling him off without threatening his circulatory system from rapid cooling. The First Aid team finally arrived. The father was distressed and intoxicated, or delirious from heat as well - probably not making smart choices for his son… a potential side effect of serving alcohol in the stadium.

Several other family members asked for my assistance after watching and helping me tend to and rescue this 9 year old who may very well had a heat stroke which can carry a 10-15% mortality rate.

At the end of the day with my > 30 years experience as a pulmonary critical care lung transplant specialist…

I am convinced LSU Tiger Stadium now represents a threat to people’s lives and could very well fulfill its nickname’s sakes - “Death Valley.” Action must take place!

It doesn’t take much reason to consider the following:

LSU stadium was built for night games.

LSU stadium was fully enclosed in 1953

LSU stadium is considered one of the loudest stadiums - which means it traps, reflects, and amplifies sounds waves - then it would not take much physics logic to recognize that it also traps, reflects, and amplifies infrared, UV, and heat waves - essentially creating an oven-like atmosphere potentially resulting in “burnt sacrificial offerings” the definition of the word of Greek origin - Holocaust.

Since my diaper days and now a century since LSU played its first game in 1924 on this existing “hallowed” ground, this stadium has been the crown-jewel for many - farmers, citizens, and visitors along with countless others representing a gathering for families in a spectacular revelry of tailgating in a near daylong “picnic-like” atmosphere which has been slowly eroding to corporate commercialism - but still particularly exciting for our youth - with now an ever-growing threat looming ahead.

One easy solution - but probably won’t ever happen because of money… would be to never allow a kickoff before 5:00 pm especially before mid-October, or simply equivalent to the chance of rain in Tiger Stadium - that is, Never! the entire season including the spring game. The life of any child is not worth it and could very well bankrupt LSU!

I recall first games rarely occurring before Sept 15, were invariably night games, and occurred at times in December.

My uncle recalls a prophetic statement from the late Jim Corbett - LSU Athletic Director 1954 - 1967 -
“Televison will change college sports - not necessarily for the good.”

Let’s put a stop to this before we lose a child or anyone because of LSU Football.

Vincent Valentine, MD, FACP, FCCP
Pulmonary Critical Care Lung Transplant Specialist - Houston Methodist
Former Editor-in-Chief ISHLT Links Newsletter 2011-2018