Students fight high temperatures

          Imagine waiting for the shuttle or walking to class with a cool breeze and warm sunlight all around. Studying on front campus or playing a little ball with some friends sounds good on a pleasant summer afternoon.
    However, as students head into the Fall semester, these images are reserved for the imagination only, because record heat indexes continue to cause students to sweat uncomfortably at GCSU. The weather affects students during school and leisure hours.
Dealing with the heat safely becomes important this time of year.
    “Waiting those 10 or 15 minutes for the shuttle can be rough,” sophomore education major Whitney McCullough said. “I have to change clothes twice a day after I get a sweat shower.”
    The sweltering heat and humidity hits early in the morning and builds to a miserable crescendo at mid-afternoon. This weather makes any pool in Milledgeville a welcome retreat.
    Those wanting to layout should prepare for an intense baking session complete with sauna-like perspiration.
    High heat forces students to change their routines in order to stay out of the warmest part of the day.
    Those who exercise outdoors need to consider their health. According to Dr. Mike Martino, associate professor of health education and exercise science program coordinator, students involved in physical activity face a drastic rise in core temperature that causes an abnormal heart rate.
    “You have to pay special attention to your body when the temperature is over 90 degrees,” Martino said. “Wear light clothes and colors because they reduce the increase in core temperature.”
    Keeping your hair short and leaving the hat at the apartment will cool you down as well.
    Senior cross country runner, Richard Dobson, knows the limiting effect of extreme temperatures. Dobson has to get acclimated to the heat so he can stay in shape for competition.
    “The heat factor is huge because it takes away my options for training,” Dobson said. “I usually try to run early in the morning if possible.”
    Precautions must be taken to prevent injuries or heat exhaustion. If you become light headed or dizzy during physical activity, Martino advised to stop and hydrate.
    Hydration along with proper nutrition helps reduce the chance of problems during the heat wave. A diet with good carbohydrates combined with fruits and vegetables should keep students healthy.
    Another issue with the heat is electrolyte loss. Sodium and potassium are vital electrolytes we sweat out during exertion.
    Ways to combat dehydration include hydrating before you go outside. Martino said mixing half sports beverage and half water is the best choice.
    Remember the body requires two weeks to acclimatize to the heat. A gradual buildup of outside activity helps deal with the physical stress.
    Dobson said students should use common sense when the temperature is this high.
“At the most I would tell students to run to the depot to do their cardio,” Dobson said. “Stay out of the heat when it’s 95 and above.”
    Beware of alcohol consumption also. Alcohol dehydrates the body and becomes dangerous when the summer heat adds to the loss of bodily fluids.
    Students can not be hydrated enough this time of year. Even though beating the heat all together has become impossible, taking it easy in the sun should help students manage until fall.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Aug 31 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry