August 21, 2006
Dehydration a serious threat to MCC athletesWith record heat pounding down everywhere in the country, dehydration can be a dangerous reality for teams training for their upcoming seasons during these summer months. With practices in heat reaching well over 100 degrees, it is important for athletes to do everything they can toremain hydrated.
Athletes at every level can fall victim to heat exhaustion and dehydration. Five years ago this August, professional football player Korey Stringer of the Minnesota Vikings died from heartstroke after vomiting during summer training camp. The shocking and tragic death of the Pro-Bowl offensive tackle led the NFL to review its policies on summer workouts.
Several weeks ago this summer’s record heat took another victim in the form of 16 year-old high school football player Ryan Owens. The young athlete from Kentucky collapsed after practice as the team was returning to the locker room after practice.
With dehydration and heat exhaustion a clear danger, it is important to look for what are and are not the warning signs of dehydration.
“Once dehydration begins, deterioration can be quick making it difficult to treat,” Dr. Edward Wojtys, Director of Sports Medicine for the University of Michigan said.
Wojtys also says that once dehydration begins the body’s temperature begins to rise which stops perspiration, the bodies natural way of cooling itself.MCC’s athletic teams take great measures to ensure that their players stay safe during sweltering summer workouts. For example, the football team starts its workouts early in the morning to avoid the peak hours of the sun’s heat. The players get frequent breaks during practices to allow adequate time to consume fluid. There are also athletic trainers on campus during practices to provide any necessary aid.
Summer workouts are an important part of the season. Players must condition themselves to perform at a high level in the season to come. It is important that these workouts are performed safely so that athletes won’t fall victim to hazardous foe of dehydration.
Do:
• Drink plenty of water before and during workouts.
• Take plenty of breaks to hydrate and to prevent heat exhaustion.
• Drink a balanced salt solution such as gatorade to hydrate and replace essential elements lost during perspiration.Don’t:
• Drink sodas before working out. They will only speed up dehyrdation process.
Volume
44, Issue 1. Today is
Derek Otton, 18, tries to stay hydrated during afternoon soccer practice.