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Playing It Cool in the Heat

by KXMB TV Megan Lowry

Posted on 8/18/2010

Playing It Cool in the Heat

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As student athletes take the field they’re taking precautions, Megan Lowry of KX News (CBS Bismarck) has tips on how to beat the summer heat.

(Dan Daffinrud, Student Athlete): “It’s pretty hot out here, so we have to drink lots of fluids, even outside of practice and it is in your mind, but you try and work through it.”

These athletes are practicing their blocks, but this season they first have to tackle the heat.

(Mark Gibson, HS Football Coach): “I think the one thing is that you have to monitor them as best you can, and I think you have to hydrate. And your practice schedule – you don’t necessarily want to change them – but there are some things you may not want to do in the heat that you don’t normally do.”

St. Alexius Athletic Trainer, Joel Jahnke, says when the temperature and humidity get above 90 degrees, dehydration becomes a huge factor in an athletes ability to perform.

(Joel Jahnke, St. Alexius Athletic Trainer): “Then you add in ten to 15 pounds of equipment, certainly football comes to mind, and then outdoor sports… soccer and cross country… just because of the exhaustion, so concern needs to be had.”

Jahnke says Athletes need to stay hydrated throughout practice, take water breaks every 15 to 20 minutes and wear lose clothing.

(Jahnke): “The athletes are going to be sweating salt minerals, so if you’re going to be exercising more than an hour, a sports drink is going to be helpful at that time. Staying hydrated afterwards, because of all the fluid that you lose, you have to maintain that especially if you are exercising day-in and day-out like most around here.”

He says players need to be aware of how their bodies are reacting to the heat. Bismarck High School’s head football coach says when the heat is too much; they stop drilling and head to the drawing board to review plays.

(Gibson): “There may be a lot more talking through things and less reps, and I just think the one thing is that it is very important that you focus on how the kids are reacting to things.”

And this Bismarck High School senior say with a few little changes and a lot of water, they’ll beat the heat.

( Daffinrud 🙂 “It is hot for everyone, so you have to just go to work harder.”

Jahnke says if you do suffer from dizziness, vomiting, or if you stop sweating, get out of the sun, find a cool area and seek medical care. Those are signs that you may be suffering from heat stroke.

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