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After a string of late summer days creeping into the 90s, sports teams have had to be extra careful. Many high school teams are taking extra water breaks during practices. The Fairfield Ludlowe football team took rehydration breaks every 10 minutes Tuesday. But even though frequent water breaks are essential, Dr. Michael Carius at Norwalk Hospital said just hydrating in the heat and humidity is not enough.
"In high temperatures, especially in high humidity, we don't possess the ability to cool ourselves," Carius said. "In high humidity, our sweat can't evaporate," which helps people cool down.
Football players are especially at risk because pads and helmets prevent sweat from evaporating. Carius recommended that teams not practice during the hottest part of the day. Even practicing right after school until 4 p.m. is pushing the danger zone on hot days, he said. Carius also said coaches need to be aware of the danger signs of heat stress such as cramping, lightheadedness, vomiting and heat stroke.
"Coaches are walking on some thin ice if they're saying, 'the hotter the better,'" he said. "It should never get to a point where these kids are vomiting or suffering a heat stroke."
New Canaan High School has the benefit of lights on many of its fields and can schedule practices for after the sun goes down. Not every school has that luxury. Carius said, if nothing else, "drink lots and lots of fluids."
Next week's forecast still calls for warm weather, but not the dangerous 90s we've seen the in past few days.
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