Lets' face it, this has been one of the warmest Summers in quite some time. The average monthly temperature has been well above normal for each of the last four months, and August is off to a much warmer-than-normal start. In fact, the average temperature this month is 78.2 degrees, nearly four degrees above the 74.4-degree normal.
The temperature climbed to 103 degrees on July 22, which tied the all-time record high for southwestern Connecticut, and the mercury reached 96 degrees the following day. The highest temperature this month was 92 degrees on August 2. The brutal Summer temperatures and extreme humidity have affected just about everybody, especially athletes.
At least two high school football players and one coach have died in just the last week due to complications from the extreme heat. There has also been a report of an adult runner in Kansas City who died due to heat stroke over the weekend. Athletes of all kinds are suffering more than ever this Summer due to the relentless hot and humid weather.
Dr. Douglas Casa from the University of Connecticut said that this last week was "the worst week in the last 35 years in terms of athlete deaths." Locally, scholastic athletes will report for practice later this month, and doctors are warning student athletes to be careful when practicing in the Summer heat.
According to CNN.com, there are no nationwide specific rules written to protect high school athletes from complications due to the hot weather. However, many school districts do put out some sort of guidelines to deal with the extreme conditions. Climatologically, August is the second hottest month of the year.
Athletes are encouraged to weigh themselves before and after each practice session. If a player's weight drops by more than three percent, dehydration is setting in. If it should drop by more than five percent, heat-related illness has begun. If you do need to practice outside or participate in strenuous exercises, do so in the early morning hours or later in the evening.
Although no extreme heat is expected over the course of the next week, daytime high temperatures will continue to hover close to the 81-degree normal for this time of the year. Showers and scattered thunderstorms will develop this afternoon, and periods of rain are likely through midnight. Skies will gradually clear tomorrow, and great weather is expected Thursday and Friday.
Paul
