YORK TOWNSHIP, YORK COUNTY, Pa.-- Athletes work hard to go the extra mile. It's all for bringing home honor and glory at the Keystone State Games. One of their toughest opponents might not be on the field or court. Instead, it might be mother nature.
"When you have a dry heat, you can actually feel a lot cooler versus a really humid day," Keystone State Games Medical Director Dr. Bryan Wexler said.
A day like Thursday can still cause heat-related illnesses for the athletes. Dr. Wexler said the illnesses could include heat exhaustion or heat stroke. He said the medical staff at the events monitor the athletes.
"Sometimes they push themselves even harder because their body is used to working in a very high level in sports," Dr. Wexler said.
According to Dr. Wexler, if someone has a heat-related illness, they try to get the athlete into a cool place, give them plenty of fluids, or a cold compress or ice pack.
If a quicker way is needed to cool down, an ice bath is used. As I found out, it quickly lowers body temperature.
"The ice in the water is taking heat away from your skin and diffusing it into the water," Dr. Wexler said.
If the illness is more severe, the athlete is taken to the hospital.
"We err on the side of caution," Dr. Wexler said. "We pull them out of the sport and transport them."
He said heat-related illness symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and heavy sweating. Some ways to prevent it are to stay hydrated, eat a balance meal, and pacing yourself while outside.