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Heat and Dehydration
July 8, 2010 Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM EDT

Much of the nation has been suffering from a record-setting heat wave as the summer comes to an end. The excessive heat brings a risk: dehydration, which can lead to death. Though these tragedies are rare, almost all of them are preventable. According to the Annual Survey of Football Injuries, there have been 31 heat related deaths on the field since 1995. That's not many when you think of the many thousands of kids playing football. But, experts say, each one could have been prevented. First: athletes need to drink water, even if they're not thirsty. Steve Stepp, a Licensed Athletic Trainer, says "You know, waiting until your body says hey I'm thirsty, I need a big glass of water or a big glass of Gatorade or PowerAde it's really too late, you're way behind in the hydration process." Second: kids, parents and coaches need to know the signs of heat exhaustion. Dr. David Marshall, with a specialty in Sports Medicine adds that "the signs and symptoms of that are going to be confusion, light-headedness, dizziness, nauseated, disoriented, things of that sort." And, athletes need to know it's okay to sit out, it's okay to not be 'tough'. Dr. Marshall says "The progression from heat cramps to heat exhaustion to heat stroke and death can occur very quickly. A kid laying in the morgue, the morgue who recently died of heat illness doesn't look very tough to me."
Experts say coaches should cancel practice or move it indoors if the heat index rises above 95.

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