By: Shannon McCarty, Newton Park
As the summer heats up, and excessive heat kicks in, it is important to properly prepare for participating in outdoor activities.
At Newton Park, we strive to keep our players, coaches, and fans safe during heat waves through some recommendations from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Red Cross, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Get Acclimated. Becoming adapted to the heat is important. Experts suggest that to taking around two weeks to gradually increase training in the hot weather in preparation for full practices and/or games.
Cooler Times. Schedule practices for times for when the sun is not quite as hot. Even though waking up early or staying up late is not ideal, avoiding extreme heat is better for everyone’s health.
Appropriate Clothing. Wear light weight clothing and as little equipment as possible during extreme heat. During baseball and softball, players should wear shorts rather than pants and avoid having catchers wear full equipment.
Proper Pacing. When temperatures are soaring, players need to pace themselves and properly stretch prior to playing. Players’ bodies will slowly and gradually adapt to the heat - this is a process that should not be rushed.
Stay Hydrated.Overall, drinking fluids is the most important thing to remember when playing in hot weather. Drinking water is crucial, but after playing for an hour athletes need to replace electrolytes with sports drinks.
Newton Park encourages coaches, fans, and players to watch for sign of developing heat illness such as: “decreased performance, mental status or personality changes, flushing, dizziness, fatigue, vomiting, headaches, and feelings of being very hot or cold.”
As an exclusively outdoor sports facility, Newton Park makes sure to offer a wide variety of drinks (including Gatorade) as well as new, filtered drinking fountains all at our concession stands. During the hot sizzle of the summer players, fans, and coaches can stay safe at Newton Park!
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