[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]
Be strategic in following this advice compliments of Ray Daiutolo Sr., president of the camden County chapter of the New Jersey Baseball Umpires Association.
The Mayo Clinic provides the following safety tips to help keep the body cool while in the summer sun. I realize that working a game may prevent us from following all of these suggestions but some of these are still practical:
- Wear loose fitting clothing that’s both lightweight and light in color. Choose clothing that draws perspiration away from the skin, such as cotton T-shirts or shorts. Newer perspiration-wicking fabrics also are effective.
- Drink plenty of water, and don’t wait until you are thirsty to take a drink. A humans’ thirst mechanism kicks in only after it is significantly depleted of fluids. If exercising heavily in hot weather, aim for two to four glasses of water – or 16 to 32 ounces – every hour.
- Stay away from liquids that contain alcohol, caffeine or lots of sugar – these actually cause you to lose more fluid. Also, know that a drink that’s too cold might cause stomach cramps.
- Don’t overdo it. Start slowly and increase your pace gradually.
- Wear sunscreen. It’s harder for the body to keep sunburned skin cool. Consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun off the face and head. Sunscreen helps protect the skin from sunburn and keeps a person cooler too.
- Know the signs of heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps.
[To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]