| Sports
Highlights With no water in Kemp,
Yellowjackets practice in Mabank
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
CEDAR CREEK LAKEWith the city of Kemp without water for two
days, and after Kemp skipped football practice Monday, the Kemp
Yellowjackets were ready to get back to work preparing for the
upcoming season.
Enter the longtime rival Mabank Panthers.
 Despite
the rivalry, and occasional antics between the schools, Kemps
neighbors to the east stepped up and did a big favor for the
Jackets.
Mabank welcomed Kemp to practice at Panther Stadium.
So, Tuesday, the Kemp Yellowjackets hopped on a bus and traveled
to Mabank to practice, and presumably, take a much-needed
shower.
Monitor Photo/Sam Epps
A Panther ball carrier pushes hard and keeps hold of the
football at football practice Tuesday morning. The Mabank
Panthers are practicing in preparation for the upcoming season.
Kemp has a scrimmage in Brownsboro Saturday, so the ability
to get in the work was a welcome word for head coach Greg
Anderson. The Yellowjackets will travel to Van Thursday, Aug.
18, for a scrimmage against the Vandals.
Kemps water was scheduled to be restored by Wednesday, and
things should begin to get back to normal for both teams.
The Mabank Panthers are set to travel to Jacksonville Saturday
for a scrimmage. Mabank will host the Athens Hornets Thursday,
Aug. 18, for a scrimmage.
In Eustace, as in Mabank, water woes werent an issue, but the
heat has been an issue.
However, with all schools practicing early in the morning, and
finishing well before 1 p.m., the hottest part of the day has
had no ill effect on teams.
The Bulldogs are set to travel to Scurry for a scrimmage, and
will travel to Elkhart Thursday, Aug. 18, for another scrimmage.
Preventing heat illnesses is
vital
By Sam Epps
Sports Editor
CEDAR CREEK LAKEArea football teams have been observing plenty
of safety with the heat in practices.
Plenty of water and hydration breaks have been made, schedules
have been altered to avoid the hottest time of day and coaches
and trainers have been keeping a close eye on the actions of the
players.
Considering the fast action and hard hits of football, coupled
with the pads and other gear, heat can be a major problem for
football players.
A statistic cited by the University Scholastic League (UIL),
between 1995 and 2000, there were 17 heat-related deaths in high
school football.
A study released by the UIL describes what to look for with
heat-related illnesses, and ways to prevent them.
During hot-weather conditions, student athletes are at risk for
the following:
Heat cramps, which are painful cramps involving abdominal
muscles and extremities caused by intense, prolonged exercise in
the heat and depletion of salt and water due to sweating.
Heat syncope, which is known to cause weakness, fatigue and
fainting due to loss of salt and water in sweat and exercise in
the heat.
Heat exhaustion (brought on by water depletion) is known for
excessive weight loss, reduced sweating, elevated skin and core
body temperature, excessive thirst, weakness, headache and
sometimes unconsciousness.
Heat Exhaustion (brought on by salt depletion) is evidenced by
exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and dizziness due
to profuse sweating and inadequate replacement of body salts.
Heatstroke, which is the most serious medical emergency
related to heat. It is associated with nausea, seizures,
disorientation, and possible unconsciousness or coma. It may
occur suddenly without being preceded by any other clinical
signs. The individual is usually unconscious with a high body
temperature and a hot dry skin.
Heat stroke is a medical emergency, and delaying treatment could
be fatal.
Immediately cool body while waiting for transfer to a hospital.
Remove clothing and place ice bags on the neck, in the armpit
area, and on the groin area.
Many people suggest wetting the skin on all exposed areas and
vigorously fanning the body to help cool the victim. If you must
be out in the heat, there are many measures you can take to
prevent heat illnesses, including:
Staying in good physical condition.
Acclimation to the heat. Acclimatization is the process of
becoming adjusted to heat. It is essential to provide for
gradual acclimatization to hot weather.
A graduated physical conditioning program should be used, and 80
percent acclimatization can be expected to occur after the first
seven to ten days. Final stages of acclimatization to heat are
marked by increased sweating and reduced salt concentration in
the sweat.
Replacement of water. This is, perhaps, the most important
thing to remember when working, playing or practicing outdoors.
It is recommended that a minimum of ten minutes be scheduled for
a water break every half hour of heavy exercise in the heat.
Replacement of salt. Modest salting of foods after practice or
games will accomplish the purpose. Salt tablets are not
recommended.
Know both the temperature and humidity. The greater the
humidity, the more difficult it is for the body to cool itself.
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