Staying safe in the heat while training for the fall sports season

LOWELLVILLE, Ohio (WKBN) – Fall student-athletes are putting in the work to get ready for the season, but how can they do it safely in this heat?

“Hydration is obviously the big key because we know we’re losing a ton of sweat when we’re out here, working out,” said Luke Olesky, an athletic trainer at Akron Children’s Hospital.

As they say, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. There’s plenty to prepare for, both on and off the field, as athletes get ready for the fall sports season.

“We try to harp on them to make sure they know nutrition is the best way to get all of the supplements that they need,” Olesky said.

Anytime the temperature ventures above 90 degrees, athletes are at a greater risk for heat-related illnesses, like cramping, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

“If it’s not taken care of or the proper precautions aren’t taken, it can almost always be fatal,” Olesky said. “I think last year alone, there were more than 2,000 related deaths specifically to high temperature of outdoor activity.”

Olesky uses every tool at his disposal to monitor athletes and the conditions they’re working in.

“Monitoring heat index, dew point, relative humidity and it gives them a collective number shown as a temperature,” he said. “They use that to guide any decisions about equipment, practice length.”

Constant water breaks are also critical, as is making sure you’re hydrating before even getting to the field.

“Nothing is better than water. Anything like Gatorade, we use Liquid IV, DripDrop. Some of those can be a great example of other hydration aids,” Olesky said.

Also, you can’t out-train a bad diet — the food that’s fueling you can also play a role.

“We like using things like citrus or bananas that are high in potassium but also high in carbs,” Olesky said. “A great pre-activity snack that they can use, or even post-activity during a break but it gives them a boost of energy to finish out.”

Football-specific workouts are closely monitored by the Ohio High School Athletic Association and there are strict guidelines for when the players can strap up.

“They’ll come out, not doing anything all summer, and think that they can perform the same way they have in previous years or previous seasons,” Olesky said.

Because of all of the sweating, it’s important for athletes to replenish sodium levels, too. That’s where sports drinks come in handy. Just beware of the sugar they contain.

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