To Beat the Heat, Be Like a Ballplayer

Like #pestcontrol professionals, Major League Baseball players must spend a lot of time outside in the summer. They refer to August and September as the “dog days,” when fatigue from the unyielding sun really starts to take a toll on them.

You can take a few cues from Major Leaguers when it comes to handling sun and heat on the job:

1.?Ballplayers listen to their bodies. They know that sweating, fatigue, dizziness, and headaches are early signs that the sun is affecting them. When they feel their fatigue and heart rate increase and notice muscles cramping, they immediately take a break.

2.?They deal with heat issues right away. Many ballplayers “tough it out” when they are struggling on the field or dealing with minor injuries. Heat exhaustion is different. They move fast, seeking shade and water or sports drinks in the dugout and applying damp towels to their foreheads and necks to lower their body temperatures as quickly as possible. If the symptoms do not improve within 30 minutes, they seek medical attention.

3.?They wear loose and light clothes when they can. While players cannot control what they wear during games, they do have choices for their pre-game workouts, which usually occur in the late afternoons when the days are hottest. They choose baggy workout clothes that allow for more air flow to keep the body cool. They also try to wear light colors – usually white or gray -- that reflect heat instead of dark team colors that absorb it.

4.?They take time to get acclimated. Many players arrive at the stadium 4-5 hours before gametime to begin their long pre-game routines. They will stagger their time between the air-conditioned clubhouse facilities and the field, slowly increasing their time on the latter to get used to the heat. This gradual process improves blood flow to the skin and helps carry heat out of the body’s core, preparing players for long stretches in the sun.

5.?They hydrate ahead of time. Players’ pregame routines also include drinking fluids in anticipation of the heat in which they will be spending hours. They do not wait until they are thirsty to hydrate, because they know by then they are already dehydrated.?