Speed and agility training in the summertime means hiking temperatures and young people practicing athletics in the heat. Thus, young athletes do not adapt to hot weather like adults. Don’t underestimate the importance of knowing the warning signs for heat illnesses and how to prevent them. These illnesses consist of any of the following, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and heat cramps. If your team is doing strength training workouts, as an adult, you need to keep in mind how dangerous heat illness can be to your charges. In actuality, heat illness can be more dangerous to youngsters. For heat stroke, the mortality rate is 17 to 70% in children. The factors associated are the child’s age and the severity of the illness.
Children experience heat-related unwellness when their bodies are unable to offset and properly cool themselves. Youngsters are more vulnerable to heat related illnesses because they don’t adapt as fast or as well to heat changes as do adults and they also create additional warmth with activeness. Young people are more at risk to heat sickness since they do not adapt as fast or as efficiently to changes in heat like adults. They also produce additional heat when they are active. Youngsters also perspire at a greater body temperature plus they sweat less than adults. For overweight children, who take medicine and have ongoing illnesses are more at risk in hot weather during workouts.
INDICATORS
Heat Cramps – painful, involuntary muscle spasms, usually in the gastrocnemius or hamstring muscles (the muscles at the back of the calves and thighs)
Dehydration – fatigue, thirstiness, dizziness, less-frequent urination, confusion, heightened heart rate and breathing, dry skin, dry mouth and mucous membranes
Heat Exhaustion – clammy, pale skin, sweating, dry mouth, tiredness (fatigue), headache and or dizziness
Heat Stroke – loss of consciousness, muddiness or hallucinations, headache, agitation, high body temperature, absence of sweating, deep or shallow breathing, feeble pulse rate, seizures
PREVENTION
Be mindful that temperatures over 80 degrees make conditions favorable to heat unwellness. It also important to know that excessive humidity reduces your body’s ability to release excess heat by perspiring. Avoid illness by getting young people acclimated to the high temperatures. Workout intensity should slowly increase over the first two weeks with no strenuous work in week one. Practice your youths in the morning or early evening as these are the coolest parts of the day. Ensure young people rest often. Have young people drink water prior to practice to ensure they are hydrated before workouts. During practice it is imperative that H2O is readily available. Even if they aren’t thirsty, young athletes need to drink fluids every 20 minutes when practicing. Fluids to keep away from are caffeine and anything carbonated. When considering clothing, minors need to wear ventilated and light weight gear.
If your adolescent or your team is doing speed and agility training as a trainer or parent, you want to be alert of the criticalness of heat-related conditions. Respect the hot temperatures or there could be deadly consequences.