Getting Up Early To Beat The Heat

A lot of people have to stay active during the summer, including student athletes getting ready for the upcoming football season.

As the temperatures continue to heat up, so does practice for high school football players.

Six in the Morning reporter Carina Sonn reports the Glenpool Warriors are trying to stay cool by getting an early start to football practice.

Glenpool's coaches know the importance of drinking water. It's the easiest way to avoid heat sickness. And health experts say if you get thirsty, you're already a liter behind.

The Glenpool Warriors have been hard at work all summer, gearing up for this year's high school football season. Coach Steve Edwards says he's not afraid to dole out the practices, but he tries to work the players in the coolest part of the day.

Coaches and their assistants watch for the signs and make the players drink a lot of water.

"We keep water jugs and water available at every workout station and they know, over a period of time that we've done this, that you grab water whenever you feel like you need it," said Coach Steve Edwards.

Of course, the best way to avoid a trip in the ambulance is to make sure you're hydrated before you spend time outside.

Signs of heat sickness include muscle cramps, dizziness, headache, nausea, weakness and fatigue. If you have any of those symptoms you should move indoors to a cool area and sip water. You also want to avoid caffeinated drinks and alcohol which can make you dehydrated.

EMSA say half the patients they have treated for heat sickness had little or no water during the day.