Carrying the Torch for Athlete Safety: In Memory of Eric Hasenyager

April 8th is National Stay Cool Day, a day established to further education and awareness surrounding exertional heat stroke deaths in sports. This date marks the birthday of our late founder, Eric Hasenyager, who would have turned 49 this year. Eric’s passion for this cause stemmed from his own days as a football and baseball player; he knew the culture of the game and was determined to change it to save lives. Though Eric passed away on April 22, 2026, just after his 48th birthday, his blueprint for athlete safety remains our guiding light. This April 8th, we honor Eric by continuing the vital work he started, ensuring coaches, parents, and players have the tools to stay cool and stay safe.

1. The “Cool First, Transport Second” Simulation

The medical gold standard for saving an athlete experiencing exertional heat stroke (EHS) is immediate whole-body cooling before an ambulance arrives.

  • The Action: Challenge high school and collegiate athletic departments across the country to host a live, 10-minute emergency action drill on April 8th.
  • How to Participate: Coaches and athletic trainers can film their teams successfully executing a “heat stroke drill”—setting up a cold-water immersion tub or rotating ice towels—and post it online using the hashtag #CoolFirstTransportSecond. It turns a dry safety protocol into an active team-building event.

2. The #StayCoolForEric “Ice Bucket” Style Challenge

Help with the Ice Athletes Stay Cool Social Media challenge

  • The Action: Athletes or coaches post a video doing a sports drill (like throwing a fastball or catching a pass) immediately followed by dumping a bucket of ice water over their heads or submerging their arms/feet in an ice bath.
  • The Message: In the caption, they tag three other sports teams or local leagues to take the challenge, while sharing one vital EHS stat (e.g., “Exertional heat stroke is 100% preventable if caught and treated early”).

3. “Check the Tub” Stadium & Field Audits

Many youth sports leagues lack the basic equipment needed to treat heat illness on-site. If your school or organization in in need of life saving equipment please reach out to our equipment team at donations@iceathletes.com.

  • The Action: Launch a nationwide push for community baseball fields and football stadiums to conduct a safety audit on April 8th.
  • How to Participate: Leagues take inventory to ensure they have an “Emergency Cooling Station” ready for the upcoming season (a dedicated shaded area, access to water, and an inflatable or hard-sided tub). Teams can post pictures of their prepared cooling stations to show they are officially certified as a “Heat-Smart Team” for 2027.

4. Dual-Sport Memorial Tournaments (Baseball & Football)

In honor of Eric being a former football and baseball player, we are asking communities nationwide to host stay cool scrimmages and home run derbys!

  • The Action: Organize local “Stay Cool” scrimmages or home run derbies.
  • How to Participate: Instead of traditional rules, these games are structured around heat safety education. For example, mandatory, structured cooling and hydration breaks are called every 15 minutes, and a “Safety Captain” is appointed for each team to monitor players for signs of heat exhaustion. Proceeds from registration or concessions can go toward funding cooling tubs for underfunded local schools.

5. The “Pass the Bottle” Digital Relay

A simple, but visual way you can participate and further awareness of stay cool day! Tag your videos #Passthebottle #Staycoolday

  • The Action: A video relay where an athlete “catches” a reusable water bottle or electrolyte drink from off-screen, takes a drink, looks at the camera to share a heat safety tip (e.g., “Always acclimatize to the heat over 10 to 14 days”), and then “throws” the bottle off-screen to the next person.
  • The Scale: Youth leagues, professional athletes, and parents can easily participate, making hydration education look active, connected, and communal.

6. Classroom and Locker Room “Eric’s Playbook” Pledges

Target the culture of sports directly by encouraging athletes to speak up when they feel unwell, rather than trying to “tough it out.”

  • The Action: Create a downloadable, one-page safety pledge called “Eric’s Playbook.”
  • How to Participate: Teams nationwide gather in their locker rooms on April 8th to read and sign the playbook. The pledge commits players to watching out for their teammates’ behavior (confusion, dizziness, or slurred speech) and empowers them to tell a coach immediately if they or a peer feel overheated. Teams can post a photo of their signed playbook to show their commitment to athlete safety.

If you or someone you know has had an experience with Exertional Heat Stoke and you would like to be a part of this campaign please reach out to social@iceathletes.com