Illinois Wesleyan University football player Doug Schmied of Hanna City died Wednesday night at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, after suffering heatstroke Friday during team practice.

High school athletics staff members said Wednesday that even with close supervision, there's no 100 percent guarantee that such an event could be avoided.

"Everybody's heart goes out to the family and Wesleyan," said Brian Knutson, Tri-Valley High School's athletic director.

The Illinois High School Association sets rules, such as not allowing football practices until Aug. 10, and players themselves are supposed keep an eye on their fluid intake.

Just before 4 p.m. Wednesday, varsity quarterback Stephen Esch, a Bloomington High School junior, stopped to talk about how he works to avoid heat injuries in hot weather. Before each practice he drinks a bottle of Gatorade sports drink, he and teammates take water breaks after each 15- to 20-minute session, and he takes to heart advice from the coaching staff.

"They always tell us if we feel weak to go to the trainer. It doesn't matter how much -- on a hot day if you have to go over there a lot, just go," he said.

Schmied's illness sparked discussion of dangers present on hot days, added Knutson.

"Look at the terrible heat index we've had this summer," he said.

The heat index describes the temperature the body feels when heat and humidity are combined.

"As a coach, you always worry about that. But all you can do is follow common sense," he said.

When Schmied's heat stroke developed Friday at IWU, the Central Illinois heat index was between 90 and 100 degrees, said Kirk Huttel of the National Weather Service's Lincoln office. Players wear heavy padding and football fields don't offer shade, adding to a body's heat absorption, he said.

Players can't wear padding the first three days of training, said John Szabo, Bloomington High School athletic director.

Though much cooler Wednesday afternoon, BHS practice still included mandatory water breaks.

"At least every 20 minutes," said Jeremy Haas, BHS head athletic trainer.

At games and on very hot practice days, Haas also brings jugs of Gatorade. "When its hotter, you're not just sweating water -- you lose potassium and nutrients," he said.

BHS defensive tackle Fian Turner sticks to water. He's not a big fan of sports drinks. But he's careful to get a steady amount of water throughout the day before practice, as well as at breaks.

Turner said high school practices are challenging, but not at the level college and professional athletes face.

"At the higher levels they do more," so those athletes face higher risks such as heatstroke, he said.