S.C. football players’ punishment causes 3rd-degree burns, blisters
LANCASTER, S.C. (WBTV) - A teacher is on leave after making football players do exercises on a hot turf field that caused blisters and third-degree burns, according to an incident report.
Football players at Buford High School in South Carolina told investigators that they were punished for making cat sounds while preparing for their weightlifting class. As a form of punishment, the teacher allegedly took them outside to the turf football field and made them bear crawl and crab walk.
The players told the teacher that the turf was burning their hands, but the teacher allegedly told them to keep “going to toughen up those soft hands,” according to the incident report.
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The class was near the end of the school day and the high reached 93 degrees that day. The temperature of turf fields is about 20 degrees hotter than the air, according to the incident report.
After completing the exercises, some players said they asked the teacher if they could get their hands wrapped prior to lifting weights and their football practice. Some players interviewed by authorities said he denied their request, although others said they were able to wrap their injured hands.
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Photos of the players’ hands show that they had blisters. At least one player sustained injuries severe enough that a doctor declared the wounds “third-degree burns,” the incident report said.
The following day, at least two players were unable to participate in a scrimmage because of their injured hands.
After the sheriff’s office spoke with players, parents, the school’s principal and the teacher.
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During an interview, the teacher said he made the players do exercises on the turf field, but said he was unaware of how hot the field could get. He told investigators he did not see the players’ hands. He also said he is not a coach, and his sole responsibility with the football team is to “[get] the players conditioned.” The incident report added that he “appeared remorseful.”
Investigators determined that the teacher would not be charged and that the incident should “be a matter for the school to handle.”
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On Tuesday, the Lancaster County School District confirmed that the teacher had been placed on paid istrative leave.
The incident is still under investigation, according to a spokesperson for the school district.
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