Friday, September 20, 2013

Prevent Heat Stroke When Playing Sports

Prevent Heat Stroke When Playing Sports


Heat stroke is a very real medical condition and should be taken seriously by athletes, parents and coaches. If not treated immediately, heat stroke can be fatal. Football players are often the most at-risk for heat stroke because of the amount of equipment they're required to wear, their exertion and the hours and frequency of their practices.


Instructions


1. Prepare yourself when heading to practice or a game. Always bring water with you and wear the lightest clothing possible.


2. Drink up. Water is the best thing to drink to avoid heat stroke. Sports drinks also work, but water is usually more accessible. Drink even if you're not thirsty.


3. Know that sweating is a good thing. It's your body's way of getting rid of the extra heat. You have a problem if you're not sweating, not the other way around.








4. Be sensible about how much you exert yourself while playing sports in extreme temperatures. If your sports uniform is heavy, like a football uniform, it'll be very difficult for your body to cool itself down. If you over-exert yourself, you could suffer from heat stroke.


5. Make sure to drink even more water when it's humid outside. In humid weather, it's harder for your sweat to evaporate and your body doesn't cool itself down as well.


6. Try to limit your outside sports to either before noon or after 6 p.m. It's cooler outside during the morning and evening hours and you'll be less likely to suffer from heat stroke.


7. Find a shady place or go indoors if you start to feel overheated.

Tags: heat stroke, your body, cool itself, cool itself down, from heat, from heat stroke