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Heat Awareness During Summer Sports
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 -- 10:06 am
Posted by Larry Hoeser, Sports Director
Heatstroke and heat exhaustion is preventable if the proper precautions are taken.
Have water available at all times and to allow the athlete and officials to drink water whenever he/she needs it. Never restrict the amount of water an athlete drinks, and be sure the athletes are drinking the water.
Fruit juices with greater than 8 percent carbohydrate content and soda can both result in a bloated feeling and abdominal cramping.
Beverages containing caffeine, alcohol, and carbonation are not to be used because of the high risk of dehydration associated with excess urine production, or decreased voluntary fluid intake.
In addition, allow time for young athletes to adapt to the weather and provide rest more often. Provide for gradual increases in frequency, duration and intensity of physical activity.
Heat loss by sweating can be dramatically impaired when the humidity is greater than 60 percent. The Heat Index is a calculation of the danger of heat illness based on ambient temperature and humidity. As the Heat Index rises, so does the risk of heat illness.
A relative humidity of 35 percent and a temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit are likely to cause heat illness, with heat stroke likely.
A relative humidity of 70 percent and a temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit are very likely to cause heat illness, with heat stroke very likely.
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