Yukon High School Trainer Shares Tips For Athletes To Stay Cool And Healthy Amid Summer Heat

As the first official day of summer arrives, student athletes in the Oklahoma City metro are already gearing up for next season's sports.

A local athletic trainer says parents can do more to keep their young athletes cool on and off the field this summer.

With temperatures only climbing from here on out, Yukon High School's athletic trainer Leander Walker said they want both parents and student athletes to be fully prepared for hot practices to prevent heat-related illnesses.

"We need them to make sure that whatever their eating, the calories are high enough that they are able to see those results of getting bigger, faster [and] stronger," Walker said.

Walker, who has trained athletes for over a decade, said he wants parents to spot signs of heat exhaustion, such as profuse sweating or redness, and combat them with plenty of water, food and breaks.

One of Walker's suggestions for parents is to weigh their athletes before and after training to see how much they’ve lost, and what’s needed to prepare for the next day.

Walker said one of the big things school districts do with extreme temperatures is keeping outdoor practice times during the coolest part of the day, which is also a good idea for any type of outdoor activity during the summer months.