Please Note: This article is archived. It may refer to situations which have changed, advice which is no longer appropriate, or people who are no longer affiliated with the university. Please consider the date on the article when evaluating its usefulness to you.

News You Can Use

When working, training outside, remember: You're not a camel

University Relations
News Bureau (662) 325-3442
Contact: Susan Hughes
Aug. 14, 2006

STARKVILLE, Miss.-As high temperatures and humidity levels continue their grips on the state, it doesn't take much for anyone working or exercising outside to quickly become dehydrated.

Scott Johnson, an assistant athletic trainer at Mississippi State University, says weather awareness is critical for personal safety at this time of year. "Be aware of what it is going to be that day and dress appropriately," he adds.

For anyone who will be outside for extended periods of time, Johnson offers several tips for dealing with the extreme conditions. They include:

Wearing lightweight and light-colored clothing to help the body deal with the heat and humidity.
Practicing temperature acclimatization; going immediately from an air-conditioned interior to a shade-free exterior denies the body a chance to naturally adjust to the major temperature change.
Staying safely hydrated by constantly consuming water and other appropriate fluids-this doesn't include alcohol- or caffeine-based drinks, however.

Johnson says a final tip involves a clear self-awareness of how much energy the outdoor activity has consumed and how its loss is affecting the body. Muscle cramps, decreased mental and physical performance, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, and headache are among indicators of dehydration's onset, he explains.

For this reason, never rely on thirst as a gauge, he warns. Thirst indicates actions that already should have been taken.