Most Kids Are Dehydrated Before Practice

A first-of-its-kind study, commissioned by the Defeat the Heat public safety campaign and presented at the recent American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) annual meeting, found that two-thirds of children arrived at sports practice significantly dehydrated — which put them at increased medical risk for more serious heat illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To help prevent these serious injuries, Defeat the Heat launched its summer dehydration prevention efforts with a new public service announcement featuring Dan Marino, father of six and former Miami Dolphins quarterback.

Each year more than 300 people die of heat-related illnesses, and dehydration can increase the risk of heat illness. To raise awareness among parents about this serious threat, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA), and The Gatorade Company joined forces to launch Defeat the Heat, a public safety campaign that aims to provide parents with dehydration and heat illness prevention tips to protect their active children.

Defeat the Heat created the “ABCs” of hydration to help parents and kids avoid dehydration, the most preventable of all sports injuries: consider fluids as part of the essential safety equipment for sports.

For more information about Defeat the Heat, to learn more about the safety campaign partners, or to obtain educational materials, visit www.defeattheheat.com or call the hotline at 866-5-DEFEAT. Always drink before, during, and after activity to replace what has been lost through sweat, and bring the right fluids. Research shows sports drinks like Gatorade hydrate best.