It’s been a long, hot summer with high temperatures breaking records all over the country. Exercising and playing sports outdoors during extreme heat is risky for athletes of all ages and experience levels — from Olympians to student athletes. The American Red Cross offers ways coaches and parents can help keep players safe.
• Learn CPR, how to use an AED and how to treat heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Don’t schedule outdoor practices and workouts during the hottest times of the day. Instead, schedule them for early in the day or later in the evening.
• Lower the intensity of these practices until your athletes grow more accustomed to the heat.
• Make sure your players drink plenty of water to avoid muscle cramping or heat-related illness. Fluids should be consumed frequently during strenuous activity and within a half hour of training.
• Include warm-ups — even young athletes need to stretch their muscles before strenuous exercise to help prevent injury.
• Plan frequent and longer breaks. Ideally, pause practice about every 20 minutes for athletes to drink fluids and rest in the shade if possible.
• Reduce the amount of heavy equipment athletes wear in the extremely hot weather. Instead, encourage nettype jerseys or lightweight, light-colored cotton T-shirts and shorts.
• Use the buddy system to encourage athletes to drink water and watch for signs of illness in their teammates.
• Have an emergency plan in place. Emergency situations may arise at any time during athletic practices and events. Knowing what to do and how to respond quickly are critical in providing the best possible care to the athletes in emergency situations.
The first responder to an emergency situation is, typically, a member of the training, coaching, strength, medical staff or a parent. Prepare for the moments that matter with first aid and CPR training from the Red Cross. We offer both in-person classes and online training. Through our classes, you will not only learn how to perform lifesaving skills, you can gain the confidence to act in an emergency and help save a life.
