Courtesy of KU Hospital
KANSAS CITY, Kan.— Slather on the sunscreen, find light clothing and seek the shade this weekend is the advice for families involved in youth sports. The continued heat and humidity can quickly lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Athletes, coaches and parents need to take precautions.
“Preparation starts well ahead of the sporting event,” said Doug Wiesner, Certified Athletic Training and director of the Youth Sports Medicine program at The University of Kansas Hospital. “Once the symptoms of heat exhaustion and/or heat stroke hit, it’s hard to recover.”
Wiesner advises drinking water every opportunity you can during the first hour of play and then alternate with a watered down sport’s drink to boost electrolytes and limit sugar intake.
While Wiesner says hydrating is a key to staying healthy during extreme temperatures, diet can also be a big factor.
In extreme cases, cramping from dehydration can lead to muscle injuries. At the first sign of feeling dizzy, a headache, nausea and/or cramping, seek shade immediately, drink fluids and consider if you need medical help.
