BE PREPARED WHEN EXERCISING IN THE HEAT
The sun powers all life processes on earth, but it also has the power to take life away. As temperatures and humidity levels around the country gravitate towards the 80’s, 90’s and 100’s, athletes exercising outdoors need to prepare appropriately for the sun and resulting heat. Just like you wouldn’t go outside on a below zero-degree day without a coat you shouldn’t go out in the ninety-degree heat without preparation.
Concussion evaluation and management have received a lot of attention over the past few years and rightfully so, but some heat illnesses can also have severe and long lasting implications. According to the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI), heat stroke is one of the leading causes of sudden death in sports. An athlete suffering from a heat illness can find his or her mental and physical conditions deteriorate quickly and if someone isn’t there to recognize the symptoms and take appropriate measures then the result can be catastrophic. All health professionals would agree that preventing harm to the human body is much better than reacting after an injury or an illness has occurred. In most all situations, exertional heat stroke and other heat related illnesses can be prevented with the proper education and planning on both the athletes part and by the coaches and support staff.