With the heat and humidity of the summer, it is important for young summer athletes to pace themselves and stay cool. Here are four tips to stay safe in the heat this summer.
Tip 1: Hydration
Drinking plenty of water before, during and after any type of activity is crucial to staying cool in the warm summer months. Also drinks with high levels of sugar such as sports drinks, sodas and juices can cause dehydration so limiting the amount of artificially flavored drinks your child consumes is recommended.
Tip 2: Heat Protection
Wearing sunscreen at every age is essential in protecting the skin against harmful UV rays. Additionally if you’re going to be battling the heat, staying in the shade and wearing loose fitting, light-colored clothing can drastically reduce rising temperatures. It’s also important to recognize when the temperatures are too high for strenuous or long-term activities outside.
Tip 3: Cooling Devices
The human body functions best within a very narrow range between 96.8 degrees F and 100.4 degrees, which can be difficult to accomplish during the intense summer heat. However, cooling devices such as the CoreControl cooling glove regulate the body’s temperature to stay within this range even in the most thermally stressful conditions.
Avoiding heat illnesses such as heat exhaustion, fainting, is important for obvious safety reasons, but use of heat safety devices like the CoreControl cooling glove can actually improve overall physical endurance and performance while still protecting the body from overheating. Everyone from youth and professional athletes to firefighters and military personnel uses the CoreControl glove to stay cool.
Tip 4: Pace Yourself
Taking ample breaks between workouts, games and activities during summer is vital to avoiding the dangerous impacts of overheating. Traditional body cooling systems like wet towels and misting fans may cool an athlete temporarily, but they don’t protect a user from the damaging effects of potential overheating.
Also see:
Outdoor Summer Safety for Kids
