Heat can turn preseason practice into a medical emergency
JACKSONVILLE, FL — As summer heat and humidity peak across Northeast Florida, sports medicine specialists are warning families not to treat preseason workouts like routine conditioning. Exertional heat stroke can develop fast during exercise and is considered one of the leading causes of death in athletics.
Bob Sefcik, executive director of the Jacksonville Sports Medicine Program, said the body generates its own heat while exercising, and Florida’s humidity makes it harder to cool down. That combination can quickly push an athlete past a safe limit.
1. Know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke
Heat illness can start with heavy sweating, feeling faint, slowing down, or a headache. Those signs are more consistent with heat exhaustion, which still needs attention before it becomes more serious.
Heat stroke is different because it affects the central nervous system. Sefcik said the defining core temperature is about 104 degrees, but the on-field warning sign is often a sudden collapse followed by unconsciousness and unresponsiveness.
2. Ask coaches what emergency gear is on site
Before practices intensify, parents should ask whether the team has an automated external defibrillator, or AED, on site and whether coaches know how to use it. Sefcik said that basic preparation matters long before an emergency happens.
He also urged families to ask whether a cold tub is available for rapid cooling, whether ice is easy to get and whether the team has an emergency action plan. Just having a plan is not enough, he said; it should be practiced so everyone knows how to respond.
3. Make sure athletic trainers are part of the plan
Athletic trainers can spot trouble early, coordinate with coaches and respond quickly if an athlete begins showing signs of heat illness. Sefcik said they are health care providers, not just sideline helpers, and can be a key layer of protection.
He noted that Duval County Public Schools has athletic trainers on site at its 17 schools that participate in sports. Many private and charter schools also employ trainers, giving families another person to check in with about heat safety.
4. Start hydrating days before practice
Sefcik said athletes should not wait until they feel thirsty to start drinking water. By the time thirst shows up, he said, dehydration has already begun affecting the body.
He recommended building hydration habits several days before workouts begin, then replacing fluids lost during practice. One practical way to do that is to weigh athletes before and after exercise, since a noticeable drop can signal fluid loss.
5. Use water, electrolytes and enough of both
During hot workouts, athletes will likely need more than a few quick sips. Sefcik said water should be the base, but sports drinks can help replace electrolytes when sweating is heavy.
Waugh added that cold drinks are often easier for athletes to take in than warm ones. She pointed to a common guideline of about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of water every 15 minutes of exercise, depending on the athlete and the conditions.
6. Treat a collapse as a race against time
If an athlete collapses and heat stroke is suspected, immediate cooling is critical while emergency help is on the way. Sefcik said access to a cold tub and ice can make the difference between life and death.
He emphasized that the priority is not to wait and see what happens. The faster the body is cooled, the better the chance of preventing permanent harm from the extreme overheating.
7. Talk before the temperature climbs even higher
Families in Northeast Florida are being urged to ask questions now, before practice intensity increases and temperatures stay high. The goal is to make sure coaches, school leaders and parents know exactly what to do if an athlete starts showing warning signs.
With preseason workouts underway, experts say the safest teams are the ones that prepare early, hydrate often and rehearse their emergency response. In hot weather, those steps are not extras; they are part of the workout plan.
