Posted: December 6, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: Dehydration, Player Safety, Youth Sports | Tags: dehydration, player safety, Safety Tag, Youth Sports |
By LAUREN WEILER
You’ve heard it again and again — drink water instead of juice, soda, or sugary sports drinks, and drink plenty of it. While the typical water-consuming mantra has always been to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (totally 1.9 liters), you’ll actually be needing a bit more than that to stay on top of your hydration needs. The average man should be drinking around 3 liters, or 13 cups of water a day to stay hydrated according to Mayo Clinic, and this amount can even increase depending on your daily activity levels. You should also consider all of the different ways you lose fluids in a day through breathing, perspiring, and going to the bathroom, so replenishing what you lose is incredibly important in maintaining optimal health. While it may seem excessive and chore-like to constantly consider your water intake, having enough fluids in your body is vital for proper organ function, metabolic health, hunger control, and achieving healthy energy levels.
If you find that you’re fatigued halfway through your workout or your workday, you may want to reach for a glass of water over coffee or caffeine-laden sports drinks. Whether you realize it or not, you may be dehydrated, and dehydration can lead to fatigue, says Authority Nutrition. Athletes in particular are prone to becoming more dehydrated than others — it is not uncommon for athletes to lose anywhere from 6 to 10% of their water weight through sweat during their workouts, and performance levels can suffer when athletes lose as little as 2% of their water weight.
Going into a workout without the proper amount of water in your system can lead to changes in the way your body regulates temperature, a lack of motivation to complete all of your reps, and the illusion that your workout is a lot more difficult than it really is in both a physical and mental sense. Because muscle is roughly 80% water, you need to give water back to your muscles when they’re hard at work, as this will keep your reps consistent and your body prepared for workouts that are longer and more difficult.
While water is great for keeping energy levels high during your workout (and outside of the gym as well), staying hydrated is also the key to maintaining that your organs are functioning as well as possible. Men’s Fitness states that water speeds up the metabolism and flushes out toxins from your body, ensuring that your organs can function with efficiency. Even the simple act of keeping your mouth and nose from drying out is from proper water intake, and processes like digesting food, circulating the blood, and lubricating and cushioning joints are supported by staying hydrated.
Drinking water also helps protect the brain, the blood, and the spinal cord while keeping these sensitive areas moist. And don’t forget about the benefits that water has for your memory and productivity — drinking a glass of water while doing office work can give you the extra boost of energy and focus that you may need to complete tedious tasks.
Everyday Health also explains how proper hydration keeps your insides working optimally by assisting in the excretion of waste through urinating, perspiring, and defecating. Your kidneys, your liver, and your intestines utilize water to flush out waste, and staying hydrated can even lead to relieving symptoms of constipation. With that being said, water is also great for digestion in general — when you consume soluble fibers, water can help the fibers dissolve easily, which eases the digestion process. Because your digestive system needs your saliva and water to assist in breaking down foods and dissolving nutrients for your body to absorb and benefit from, it makes sense that drinking water can ease this process and assist your body in the food and particle breakdown.
Water also greatly benefits the skin, your body’s largest organ. Certain toxins can cause inflammation, which can directly affect the clarity of your skin. If you’re looking for a quick way to clear an acne breakout, consider drinking a few more glasses of water a day to reduce the risk of any inflammatory skin disorder. And, because your digestive health and your skin health are linked, you may drink more water to help with your digestion and experience clearer skin as an added bonus.
Though you may be reaching for low-calorie protein shakes and calorie-controlled portions to reach your weight loss goal, Greatist says that water is a key component to staying trim and feeling fuller for longer. Adding a few more glasses of water a day to your daily diet can help keep you satiated and boost your metabolic rate — not only will you be cutting back on calories, but you’ll also give your metabolism the extra boost it might need. According to this study, drinking a little over two cups of water extra a day can increase your metabolic rate by 30% for up to (or slightly over) an hour. You should also consider what time you’re drinking your water as well — drinking water a half hour before your next meal is appropriate so that you feel satiated before beginning to eat, which will lower your calorie intake overall.
Though the best way to stay hydrated is from drinking water from the glass, you can also eat more foods that naturally contain more water. Health states that nearly 20% of your daily water intake comes from solid foods anyway, so consider adding more cucumbers (96.7% water), iceberg lettuce (95.6%), radishes (95.3%), tomatoes (94.5%), watermelon (91.5%), and strawberries (91%) into your diet. If you’re finding it difficult to get more of these fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet, then consider adding in cucumbers, lemons, or herbs to your drinking water for additional digestive health boosts and anti-inflammatory effects.
Having trouble keeping up with how much water you’re drinking? A general rule of thumb is to drink a full glass of water as you’re eating each meal and between every meal that you have. If you rarely feel thirsty and your urine is light yellow in color, you’re most likely pretty well-hydrated, and though it is possible to experience health complications associated with drinking too much water, most healthy adults who eat an average diet will not need to worry about this ever becoming an issue.
Source: Weiler, Lauren. “The Health Benefits of Drinking Enough Water.” The Cheat Sheet. N.p., 06 Dec. 2015. Web. 06 Dec. 2015.
Posted: November 25, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: Concussions, Dehydration, Football, Heat Stroke, Player Safety, Youth Sports | Tags: Concussions, player safety, Safety Tag, youth football, Youth Sports |
By DR DAVID GEIER
Tyrell Cameron. Ben Hamm. Evan Murray. Kenney Bui. Rod Williams. Cam’ron Matthews. Andre Smith. Luke Schemm.
These are all young athletes who have died this season playing high school football.
Deaths in a sport can be classified as either direct or indirect fatalities. Direct fatalities are those that result from football itself, such as a player suffering a broken neck tackling an opponent. Indirect deaths result from exertion while playing. Examples include heat stroke and cardiac deaths.
From available media reports, it appears that most of the young athletes listed above died from events directly caused by football. They died from brain injuries, cervical spine injuries or a lacerated spleen.
If these reports are accurate, then at least six of the deaths this fall are directly related to high school football. Add these to the eight deaths in 2013 and five in 2014, and this three-year period marks the highest total since 1986-1988, according to Jason Lisk of The Big Lead.
Whether or not this recent spike in fatalities is part of a trend or just an aberration remains to be seen.
Dr. Frederick Mueller, the former director of the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, explained to me that in the 1960s and early 1970s, 25 to 30 athletes died each year as a result of head and neck injuries. In 1976, football banned spear tackling, which involved leading with the head or helmet. That change helped to dramatically cut fatalities in the sport.
According to data from the NCCSIR, 26 high school football players suffered deaths directly related to the sport between 2003 and 2012, or about three per year. Nineteen direct fatalities have occurred from 2013 through the end of the 2015 season, which appears to be a significant increase. It’s possible, however, that increased media coverage and the proliferation of social media has helped to publicize deaths we might never have heard about in the past.
While it’s hard to conclude that deaths in high school football are becoming more common, it is clear that we aren’t making much headway in preventing them either.
Part of the problem could be the evolution of the sport at the high school level and the athletes who play it. Kids start playing competitively at a much younger age, so the high school game is played at a higher level than ever. Plus the athletes are bigger, faster and stronger and deliver hits with more force than they did decades ago.
More worrisome, though, are the deaths indirectly related to football. There were 62 indirect fatalities between 2008 and 2014, according to NCCSIR data. Most deaths from heat stroke, sickling in athletes with sickle cell trait and heart issues can be prevented with rapid and appropriate medical response in the first few minutes. Yet these deaths seem to be rising.
I don’t present these statistics to scare anyone. The simple fact is that kids die playing football.
You might look at that number — six deaths directly caused by football this year — and think that it isn’t many when 1.1 million kids play high school football. Or you might be a parent who decides it is far too high.
We need more research on high school football deaths and new strategies to prevent them. Would creating more protective helmets make a difference? Would teaching proper tackling techniques help? Yes, we need those efforts and much, much more. But the last 40 years have shown us that we aren’t making much progress.
Football is more popular than ever, and kids want to play. Parents will have to decide if six deaths a year is an acceptable risk for their children.
Dr. David Geier is an orthopaedic surgeon in Charleston. For more information about football injuries and other sports medicine topics, go to drdavidgeier.com.
Source: Geier, David. “Are Deaths Increasing in High School Football?” Post and Courier. N.p., 25 Nov. 2015. Web. 25 Nov. 2015.
Posted: August 11, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: Dehydration, Heat Stroke, Player Safety, Youth Sports | Tags: dehydration, player safety, Safety Tag, Youth Sports |
By AUSTIN WELLS
With the recent weeks bringing some of the hottest weather Texas has seen all year, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall reminds community members of the importance of keeping hydrated – especially those who plan on spending a lot of time outdoors.
For parents, it might often be difficult to tell if a child is suffering from dehydration or heat exhaustion, particularly if the child happens to be enjoying some swim time at the pool.
Dr. Clint Lowry – who works within the Texas Health North Rockwall Emergency Room located at2265 N. Lakeshore Dr.– said some of the major signs and symptoms of dehydration to look for include increased respiratory rate, vomiting and headache.
According to Dr. Lowry, the elderly and very young of age are at a higher risk of suffering a heat-related illness such as a heat stroke or dehydration when exposed to hot temperatures for long periods of time.
“Elderly patients – particularly if they have underlying heart disease or are on a lot of medications – may be prone to experiencing heat exhaustion and heat stroke sooner than younger, healthier patients,” Dr. Lowry said. “The same could be said for the very young, who may not physiologically adapt as well in extreme heat conditions.”
For someone who’s severely dehydrated or suffering from severe heat exhaustion and must be taken to the ER, the staff within the North ER will always first check the individual’s electrolyte levels and renal functions (the state of the kidneys), both of which Dr. Lowry said are very important when it comes to treating heat-related illnesses.
“Checking electrolytes and renal function would be the minimum workup, potentially much more depending on how the patient feels and what their adjoining medical problems are,” he said.
The most important thing an individual can do to combat the heat would be to hydrate with the proper fluids before venturing out into the sun. Liquids such as water or electrolyte-replenishing drinks such as Gatorade or PowerAde are much better choices than diuretic drinks containing caffeine and alcohol which can increase urine output, causing you to lose more fluids.
“Preventing dehydration really starts before you leave the house,” Dr. Lowry said. “Make sure you’re well hydrated before you get out in the heat.”
Source: Wells, Austin. “Beat the Heat: Know the Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration.” Blue Ribbon News. N.p., 11 Aug. 2015. Web. 11 Aug. 2015.
Posted: August 10, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: Dehydration, Heat Stroke, Player Safety, Youth Sports | Tags: dehydration, Heat Stroke, player safety, Safety Tag, Youth Sports |
By ELIZABETH DINH
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – North Texas remains under a Heat Advisory on Monday, which could end up being one of the hottest days of the year. The advisory runs through 7:00 p.m. and may even be extended into Tuesday for some areas. In such extreme heat, it is important to make sure that you remain safe.
MedStar on Monday said that they are now responding to an average of five heat-related medical emergencies each day, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Children and the elderly are most likely to experience these illnesses.
SYMPTOMS
Heatstroke occurs when the body suffers long exposure to heat and becomes unable to cool down. It can be life threatening, so it is important to know the symptoms, and those of heat exhaustion. They include paleness, sweating, nausea and vomiting. A case of heat exhaustion can escalate to heatstroke within minutes.
Additional signs of heatstroke include confusion, dry skin, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, decreased urination and even convulsions. If you see someone experiencing these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
HYDRATION
“Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses large amount of water and salt through excessive sweating, particularly through hard labor or exercise,” explained Dr. Neal Richmond with MedStar.
Doctors recommend that people drink eight ounces of water every other hour in order to stay hydrated. Keep in mind, simply swimming in a pool or running through a sprinkler is not enough. Also, be sure to minimize the amount of carbonated, sugary and caffeinated drinks that you take in, because those can actually dehydrate you.
VENTILATION
Try to stay in a place where there is plenty of cool air circulating. If you are indoors and do not have access to air conditioning, open windows and use fans. The Salvation Army has also opened cooling centers across North Texas.
“If you’re going to be doing anything outdoors during the high-temperature summer months, we recommend drinking plenty of water and frequently cooling off in the shade or indoors,” said Macara Trusty with MedStar.
CLOTHING
Avoid dark colors and tight garments that trap in the heat. Also, hats are great for shielding from the sun. However, if you feel yourself getting too warm, remove the hat and any other head coverings to allow heat to escape. And don’t forget to apply (and re-apply) plenty of sunscreen.
Dallas exerciser Laurie Seale said, “If you come out here and you’re not covered, you’re going to get sunburned and you’re not going to have fun.”
EXERCISE
Most people will try to workout indoors on the hot days. But, for those who still want to exercise outside, try to do it very early in the day, before the sun rises. Be careful about doing an intense workout after a long day. If you are going to exercise later in the day, do just a light workout instead.
“I have a glass of orange juice,” stated Dr. Robert Bloom, who was exercising on the Katy Trail on Monday morning, “because the orange juice contains potassium, which is important for cramping.”
CARS
Car care is also imporant in the hot weather. According to AAA, drivers should check the air pressure of their tires. Those with low air pressure are more likely to blow out on the hot pavement. Heat is bad for your engine, too. Make sure that your cooling system has a good mix of water and coolant.
As for your car battery, heat and vibration are both enemies, and can lead to internal breakdown and failure. Open your hood and make sure that your car battery is secure. And, if it is more than three years old, have a professional test it to see how long it might last. Get more car care tips from AAA.
And, of course, do not leave children or pets unattended in hot cars. Be sure to keep car doors locked when the vehicles are not in use to prevent children from getting trapped inside.
CHECKING UP
It is important to check on neighbors and loved ones, especially the elderly who are especially vulnerable to heat illnesses and may not realize how hot it is getting. Call them, or stop by their homes, to make sure that they stay safe and are feeling okay.
Source: Dinh, Elizabeth. “Tips For Staying Safe In Hot Weather.” CBS Dallas Fort Worth. N.p., 10 Aug. 2015. Web. 10 Aug. 2015.
Posted: August 8, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: Dehydration, Heat Stroke, Player Safety, Youth Sports | Tags: dehydration, Heat Stroke, Safety Tag, Youth Sports |
By THOMAS M KOSTIGEN
Dehydration. It’s one of the most serious health consequences weather can bring about, yet it’s often one of the most under-prepared for.
Scorching temperatures across the country this week and throughout this summer are reminders that we need to stay not only cool but hydrated. Many parts of the United States are in the middle of record-setting heat waves, with cities like Dallas reporting triple-digit temperatures — for days.
Dehydration happens when you use or expel more fluids than you ingest. This interrupts the body’s ability to function normally. As the Mayo Clinic notes, a common cause of dehydration includes exercise, especially in hot weather.
But it’s not just the heat that brings on the potentially deadly condition. Dehydration can occur in any type of weather if your body doesn’t get the right amount and kinds of fluids to offset its losses. Heat causes dehydration more often than cooler temperatures because your body can sweat fluids even without exertion in a short period of time.
Just a 1.5% loss of body water can result in dehydration, and sometimes water itself isn’t enough to battle it. Electrolytes are key to staying healthy and hydrated.
Electrolytes are minerals contained in your blood and other bodily fluids that affect the amount of water your body retains. Some of the more common electrolytes are calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. When there is an imbalance of these minerals, dehydration sets in and all sorts of complications can occur: blackouts, stroke, kidney failure and muscle malfunctions. It can even lead to death.
That’s why staying hydrated may mean more than drinking plenty of water. The rule of thumb for fluid intake is to drink eight, eight-ounce glasses per day. It’s an inexact measure because it depends on weight and exertion, as well as weather conditions. (Note that all fluids count toward the total, which adds up to about two liters of water per day.)
Water doesn’t contain the electrolytes we need if we experience mineral imbalances. Sports drinks such as Gatorade can correct things because they contain many of the electrolytes your body needs.
In a pinch, you can also make your own rehydration cocktail with a half teaspoon of salt, six teaspoons of sugar and a liter of water. Blend it all together and drink it in small amounts every few minutes for several hours until you feel better. You shouldn’t drink this if you have any type of medical condition, and you should always seek medical attention first if you feel ill from the heat.
Signs of dehydration include thirst, dry mouth, a swollen tongue, weakness, dizziness, an increased heart rate, confusion and fainting, among other symptoms.
Remember that acclimatization is also key to staying safe in different weather conditions. If you travel to a warmer climate than you are used to, or are at altitudes different than where you live, your body will need time to adjust. Part of that adjustment means hydrating. Emergency room doctors in Key West, Fla., — the warmest location on average in the U.S. — cite dehydration from visitors as the most common illness they treat.
You should enjoy the warmth of summer and all the activities it brings: beach-going, hiking, a nice long walk in the park. Just don’t forget to drink (water) to all that enjoyment.
Source: Kostigen, Thomas M. “Staying Hydrated Is about More than Just Drinking Water.” USA Today. Gannett, 08 Aug. 2015. Web. 08 Aug. 2015.
Posted: August 8, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: Dehydration, Player Safety, Youth Sports | Tags: dehydration, Heat Stroke, Safety Tag, Youth Sports |
By STAR HEALTH DESK
Should you drink at least eight glasses of water every day?
There’s no evidence to back that up. The Institute of Medicine recommends that men get about 125 ounces of water daily and that women get 91 ounces, but that includes water from all foods and beverages.
How much of their water do people typically get from food?
The average person gets about 20% of their water for the day from food. An apple is 84% water. Bananas are 74% water. Broccoli is 91% water.
Can exercise in hot, humid conditions make you dehydrated?
It does not take long to get dehydrated — especially in hot, humid weather. So don’t exercise hard, outdoors, when it is too hot and humid. You will need to take longer breaks, shorten the workout or intensity level, and dress appropriately.
While exercising, should most people break for water?
On average, you should take a rehydration break about every 20 minutes. Most people would stay adequately hydrated by drinking 5 to 10 ounces of fluid every 20 minutes. But your exact need depends on things like how hard you are working, whether you are indoors or outdoors, and your age, gender, and weight.
Which drink is the most dehydrating?
Alcoholic beverages have the most dehydrating effect. Coffee and other caffeinated drinks do make you urinate more, but overall, they are hydrating because of their water content. Juices, sodas, and other sweet drinks also are hydrating. Water is usually a better choice for hydration because it does not have extra calories.
How much water does the average adult lose every day naturally?
You lose about 10 or more cups of water every day just living: breathing, sweating, urinating, etc. Eating and drinking usually make up for it.
Does drinking water help you lose weight?
Water could help with weight loss. Studies show that by drinking water, people tended to eat and drink fewer calories, probably because the water filled them up. As a result, they lost weight.
Should you avoid drinks and snacks with sodium when you are trying to rehydrate?
Sodium is something your body needs when you are trying to rehydrate, either during or after exercise. That is why sports drinks are often rich in sodium — one of the electrolytes your body loses during exercise. Drinks and snacks with sodium also can trigger thirst and help you retain fluids. But too much salt can raise your blood pressure and worsen heart conditions in some people.
Can you drink too much water while exercising?
It is possible to drink too much water. Healthy kidneys in an adult can process anywhere from 20 to 1,000 milliliters of fluid per hour. It is not easy to overload them, but it can happen. Getting too much water, especially in a short time, is dangerous. Symptoms of too much water include weight gain, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. Sudden cases of water intoxication can cause low blood sodium, which can result in headaches, confusion, seizures, and coma.
Which is an early warning sign of dehydration?
Thirst is one of the first warning signals that you may be getting dehydrated. But don’t rely on thirst alone. Other early signs are fatigue, flushed skin, faster breathing and pulse rate, and having trouble exercising. Later signs include weakness, dizziness, and labored breathing.
If you think you are becoming dehydrated, you should move to a cool place and rehydrate. Drink fluids slowly — drinking too fast can stimulate urination, resulting in less hydration.
Source: “How Much Do You Know about Hydration?” The Daily Star. N.p., 08 Aug. 2015. Web. 08 Aug. 2015.
Posted: August 1, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: Dehydration, Football, Heat Stroke, High School, Player Safety | Tags: dehydration, Heat Stroke, high school football, player safety, Safety Tag |
By DONALD EMMONS BLADE
Sweating profusely is quite common at this time of year in Ohio.
It certainly is the case on high school football fields all across the Buckeye state when two-a-days are in full effect.
The buildup of excitement to kick off another football season comes with concern. Coaches think safety first when it comes to practicing under an August sun and high temperatures.
Football coaching staffs should be as concerned about dehydration and heat exhaustion as they are about a quarterback understanding a playbook at this stage in the season. As teams work on conditioning in preparation for — at minimum — a 10-game regular season schedule, there’s plenty of thought put into taking precautions to avoid cases of dehydration or heat exhaustion.
“The issue — water is the most critical thing, keeping hydrated and keeping them cool,” said Dr. Kris Brickman, medical director of the ER at the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio, who also serves as St. John’s Jesuit’s team physician.
Brickman, who is in his 29th year serving as the Titans’ team physician, recommends having football teams take “water breaks” every 30 minutes to address concerns about players becoming dehydrated or overheated.
Furthermore, he believes the water breaks should involve not only players drinking water, but also being cooled off with water in a water mist.
“If you don’t have a cooling system or a way to cool them down, it would be better to get out of the sun,” Brickman said.
Perrysburg is one of many schools set to commence the first week of football practices today with two-a-day sessions.
Yellow Jackets coach Matt Kregel said their approach to addressing concerns about players becoming dehydrated is to have breaks every 40 minutes during a two-hour practice.
“We have five-minute water breaks, three per practice,” Kregel said. “And any situation they’re in, they can walk out and get water if they need water.”
Making sure enough water stations are available is one way Springfield coach Pat Gucciardo addresses concerns about players becoming dehydrated or overheated.
“We have water available at water troughs, and our training staff does a great job with keeping Gatorade at different stations,” said Gucciardo, whose Blue Devils begin to practice today.
When temperatures are 90 degrees or above, Brickman said “the general rule” he recommends to the Titans’ coaching staff is to practice no more than 30 minutes before stopping practice to allow players to drink water and get cooled off under a water cooling system such as a water mister.
Replenishing bodily fluids lost from sweating during workouts is vital to regulating the body’s temperature.
Furthermore, Brickman said bigger and heavier players — such as offensive and defensive linemen — may be more likely than smaller players such as quarterbacks and wide receivers to dehydrate.
However, he believes monitoring practices in the heat should be handled with the consideration of all the players in mind.
“The running backs and wide receivers can dissipate the heat better than that lineman,” Brickman said.
“At the end of the day, coaches have to figure out how to get their teams ready for the season.”
Wauseon coach Travis Cooper said they will make sure enough water and sports drinks that include electrolytes are made available throughout their practice sessions, which kicks off today.
“We spend a lot of time before the season discussing proper hydration, not only water but electrolytes, a combination of both,” Cooper said.
“We also keep an eye on the weather. We get hour-to-hour forecast from the trainer.”
Waite coach Dan Chipka said the Indians will not hit the practice field for two-a-day sessions until Monday.
He said the Indians are ready to get the season started, and his coaching staff is prepared to deal with weather conditions that raises concerns about players experiencing dehydration.
“I have 13 coaches on staff, and one thing I emphasize is filling up the water bottles and working the waters bottles around,” Chipka said.
The Waite coach also said he will adjust practices according to the weather conditions.
If temperatures and humidity are too high, the Indians have adjusted their practice plans, such as not working out in full pads and just in helmets, T-shirts and shorts.
Chipka will not rule anything out for the cause of his players’ safety.
“We’ll call practice if need be, if necessary,” Chipka said.
Safety comes first.
Source: Blade, Donald Emmons. “High School Football Coaches Cautious of Dehydration, Player Safety.” BCSN. N.p., 01 Aug. 2015. Web. 01 Aug. 2015.
Posted: July 30, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: Dehydration, Player Safety | Tags: dehydration, player safety, Safety Tag |
Summertime is great for outdoor fun. However, one of the hidden dangers can be dehydration. Dehydration occurs when we lose more liquid than we take in. All of the fluid we lose needs to be replaced every day. Under normal conditions, thirst tells us that we need fluids; we drink water, and we do not become dehydrated. However, little ones may be too distracted playing to tell you they’re thirsty or perhaps not be able to even say that they’re thirsty.
Signs of dehydration include:
- Lack of sweating
- Fast heartbeat
- Less urine being produced. I.E. dry diapers, or no trips to the bathroom. Urine that is dark-colored is more concentrated, and evidence of some amount of dehydration. Clear to light yellow urine usually means your child is hydrated.
- Fewer tears. A dehydrated child cannot make tears.
- Mucous membranes, like the inside of the mouth, dry up.
If your child has any of these symptoms, give them fluids immediately. If the symptoms are severe, call your doctor and heed their advice. If they tell you to treat them at home, here are some tips to rehydrate your kids.
For the future, here are some tips to keep your kid hydrated.
- Give them small amounts of liquid frequently. That way, it’s easier for them to keep it down.
- On hot days, serve “water” snacks such as celery or watermelon.
- Make sure they have plenty of breaks during playtime to rehydrate.
- Get them a cool water bottle to get them excited about drinking water.
Source: “5 Ways to Tell If Your Kid Is Dehydrated.” RSS. N.p., 30 July 2015. Web. 30 Aug. 2015.
Posted: July 28, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: Dehydration, Heat Stroke, Player Safety | Tags: dehydration, player safety, Safety Tag |
By CASEY HOLDER
Around noon Monday at Graham High School’s Newton Field, attendees of the GHS Steers football camp huddled around three small water tanks using hoses to stay hydrated as temperatures climbed through the mid 90s.
It was hot out there, and according to National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Stalley, there is no major relief from high temperatures expected any time soon.
“It looks like we’ll continue to be in the upper 90s, near 100 degrees, every day for the foreseeable future really,” Stalley said. “We do have kind of a weak front that will nose its way in late this week around Friday. It will bring very slight chances for scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. As far as any kind of temperature relief, it looks like we’re going to stay in this really hot pattern for as long as we can see.”
With high temperatures, exposure to heat and sunlight increase chances of heat exhaustion, Young County Family Clinic Director and nurse practitioner Joe Clark said. Individuals with preexisting, chronic health conditions, those taking heart medication or diuretics, the obese, young children and the very old will be more susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Early signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration include headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, light headedness and a lack of sweat. Individuals experiencing such symptoms need to get out of the heat, sit down, find a fan and begin ingesting a regiment of water mixed with small amounts of table salt.
“They can mix a teaspoon of salt into a quart of water and drink a cup every 15 minutes,” Clark said. “That will help balance their electrolytes and replace some of the sodium. When you sweat you lose a lot of sodium.”
Reduced sugar Gatorade will serve the same purpose, Clark said.
Medical treatment should be sought in cases of severe heat exhaustion during which individuals become confused, less responsive, have seizures or lose consciousness, Clark said. While waiting for medical attention, cool cloths on the neck, under armpits and in the groin can begin cooling an overheated individual’s blood and bring their core temperature down.
Source: Holder, Casey. “Oppressive Heat Is Here to Stay, Hydration Is Key.” - Graham Leader. N.p., 28 July 2015. Web. 28 July 2015.
Posted: July 27, 2015 | Author: admin | Filed under: Dehydration, Player Safety | Tags: dehydration, player safety, Safety Tag |
By SAMANTHA OLSON
Water is necessary for carrying nutrients to your cells, flushing bacteria from your system, preventing dehydration, and replacing fluids lost from sweating, but you may not need to drink as much as you thought. The Harvard Health Letter published new water recommendations challenging the long-standing eight 8-ounce glasses-a-day rule, which they say weren’t based on science, but instead an educated guess on what the body needs to stay hydrated.
Harvard recommends drinking 30 to 50 ounces a day, which is equivalent to approximately four to six glasses of water. However, the team isn’t just recommending water to drink at this optimal standard, but fluids in general to aid in hydration. Even certain foods like watermelon, lettuce, spinach, and soups provide the body with fluids that can work in tandem with water to retain and process a healthy amount of water. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and those who engage in a lot of exercise may need more than the standard six glasses, however.
Recently, a panel of experts from around the world collaboratively wrote a study published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine that also warned how drinking beyond thirst can be hazardous for your health. Athletes are at the greatest risk of drinking to the point of exercise-associated hyponatremia, which occurs when the kidneys become flooded by large quantities of water, unable to process the liquid efficiently. The sodium levels in the human body aren’t able to balance the amount of water, eventually leading to swelling cells and — in severe cases — death.
How The Brain Processes Thirst
“Using the innate thirst mechanism to guide fluid consumption is a strategy that should limit drinking in excess and developing hyponatremia while providing sufficient fluid to prevent excessive dehydration,” according to the guidelines, published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.
Going overboard can be avoided so long as you listen to your body and recognized when you’re thirsty. Thirst is one of the basic survival instincts, as it performs several crucial bodily functions, according to the Society of Neuroscience. In addition to flushing and cleansing the body, water maintains body temperatures; transports vitamins, minerals, hormones; and lubricates joints, eyes, and intestines.
But how do we really know we’re thirsty? The instinct to drink water keeps us alive. Adults can’t survive for more than a week without water, while children can die in a period of a few hours if left in a hot car, according to Scientific American. Thirst is regulated by a messaging network between the brain and various parts of the body. The negative feedback from organs and other parts turns on the thirst mechanism located in the brain, which cues us to pour a glass of water. As humans age, the loop can weaken and put the elderly population at risk for dehydration and a host of other health issues.
Source: Olson, Samantha. “How Much Water Should You Really Drink Each Day?” Medical Daily. N.p., 27 July 2015. Web. 27 July 2015.
Recent Comments