HYDRATION

[texdocbay]

Health and Safety

Recommendations for Hydration
WHAT NOT TO DRINK

Drinks with Carbohydrate (CHO) concentrations of greater than eight percent should be avoided.
Fruit juices, CHO gels, sodas, and sports drinks that have a CHO greater than six to eight percent are not recommended during exercise as sole beverages.
Beverages containing caffeine, alcohol, and carbonation are not to be used because of the high risk of dehydration associated with excess urine production, or decreased voluntary fluid intake.
HYDRATION TIPS AND FLUID GUIDELINES
Drink according to a schedule based on individual fluid needs.
Drink before, during and after practices and games.
Drink 17-20 ounces of water or sports drinks with six to eight percent CHO, two to three hours before exercise.
Drink another 7-10 ounces of water or sport drink 10 to 20 minutes before exercise.
Drink early - By the time you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated.
In general, every 10-20 minutes drink at least 7-10 ounces of water or sports drink to maintain hydration, and remember to drink beyond your thirst.
Drink fluids based on the amount of sweat and urine loss.
Within two hours, drink enough to replace any weight loss from exercise.
Drink approximately 20-24 ounces of sports drink per pound of weight loss.
Dehydration usually occurs with a weight loss of two percent of body weight or more.
WHAT TO DRINK DURING EXERCISE
If exercise lasts more than 45-50 minutes or is intense, a sports drink should be provided during the session.
The carbohydrate concentration in the ideal fluid replacement solution should be in the range of six to eight percent CHO.
During events when a high rate of fluid intake is necessary to sustain hydration, sports drinks with less than seven percent CHO should be used to optimize fluid delivery. These sports drinks have a faster gastric emptying rate and thus aid in hydration.
Sports drinks with a CHO content of 10 percent have a slow gastric emptying rate and contribute to dehydration and should be avoided during exercise.
Fluids with salt (sodium chloride) are beneficial to increasing thirst and voluntary fluid intake as well as offsetting the amount of fluid lost with sweat.
Salt should never be added to drinks, and salt tablets should be avoided.
Cool beverages at temperatures between 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit are recommended for best results with fluid replacement.

[51sDad]

Good stuff here on hydration:
http://healthy-fastpitch.blogspot.com/2010/01/fighting-fatigue.html

[USFA]

What is needed to know is this What to do when you overheat.


Place ice bags underarms do not put it on thier head.
A good coach always has amonia water rags in the south.
They are good around the neck to help cool you down. And ofcourse a good tournament director allows the Pitchers and catchers call time to get a drink if needed. But do that in the last 5 mins of a USFA game the clock will stop.

[51sDad]

What is needed to know is this What to do when you overheat.


Place ice bags underarms do not put it on thier head.
A good coach always has amonia water rags in the south.
They are good around the neck to help cool you down. And ofcourse a good tournament director allows the Pitchers and catchers call time to get a drink if needed. But do that in the last 5 mins of a USFA game the clock will stop.

This is an old wives tale and not only does nothing to stop dehydration but can elevate levels of ammonia in the body by entering the bloodstream through the skin. Doing so could potentially cause seizures or even a stroke. You can tell a child is overheated if their skin begins to go pale or they stop sweating. If this happens to a child, they should NOT be on the field no matter how good the tournament director is. The best way to avoid overheating is to sweat and replace liquid in the body with water. If you have girls over heating on your watch then your simply misinformed, not a good coach.

[bruisedshins]

What is needed to know is this What to do when you overheat.


Place ice bags underarms do not put it on thier head.
A good coach always has amonia water rags in the south.
They are good around the neck to help cool you down. And ofcourse a good tournament director allows the Pitchers and catchers call time to get a drink if needed. But do that in the last 5 mins of a USFA game the clock will stop.

Why would you place ice bags under their arms, but not cool off their head? It's the body's giant radiator where they can exchange the most heat. And the thing to do if they are slightly overheated (flushed and sweaty, sick, or woozy) is pull them off the field and put them in air conditioning with an adult to supervise their steady rehydration. Anything more serious (flushed and dry, truly dizzy, confused) needs 911. Period. I've seen what happens when you don't multiple times; it's not pretty .

Monkey's Dad, RN, CEN

[Just a mom]

What is needed to know is this What to do when you overheat.


Place ice bags underarms do not put it on thier head.
A good coach always has amonia water rags in the south.
They are good around the neck to help cool you down. And ofcourse a good tournament director allows the Pitchers and catchers call time to get a drink if needed. But do that in the last 5 mins of a USFA game the clock will stop.

Why would you place ice bags under their arms, but not cool off their head? It's the body's giant radiator where they can exchange the most heat. And the thing to do if they are slightly overheated (flushed and sweaty, sick, or woozy) is pull them off the field and put them in air conditioning with an adult to supervise their steady rehydration. Anything more serious (flushed and dry, truly dizzy, confused) needs 911. Period. I've seen what happens when you don't multiple times; it's not pretty .

Monkey's Dad, RN, CEN

The point was no amonia water .

[monkeysmom]

We have used ammonia towels in the extreme heat and it is not true that they will adversely affect health. You have to use the correct formula, 1-2 DROPS of ammonia spirits in a large cooler of ice and water with clean white towels. We have since transitioned to simply ice and water with clean towels and there is no redunking. Use the towel, it goes in the dirty bag and done. We just keep 200+ little hand towels on hand. Very effective to keep the girls from getting overheated in addition to proper hydration.

Monkey's Mom, RN, CVN

[51sDad]

We have used ammonia towels in the extreme heat and it is not true that they will adversely affect health. You have to use the correct formula, 1-2 DROPS of ammonia spirits in a large cooler of ice and water with clean white towels. We have since transitioned to simply ice and water with clean towels and there is no redunking. Use the towel, it goes in the dirty bag and done. We just keep 200+ little hand towels on hand. Very effective to keep the girls from getting overheated in addition to proper hydration.

Monkey's Mom, RN, CVN

Actually I stated that this could potentially have adverse reactions which is in fact true depending on the body mass of the person. My point was more that there is no scientific reasoning behind using ammonia to treat dehydration. If you have evidence that supports otherwise, I stand corrected. As a nurse, I would love to hear your medical explanation of using 2 drops of ammonia to prevent overheating. If the "correct formula" prevents overheating, why have you transitioned to only water?

[Just a mom]

We have used ammonia towels in the extreme heat and it is not true that they will adversely affect health. You have to use the correct formula, 1-2 DROPS of ammonia spirits in a large cooler of ice and water with clean white towels. We have since transitioned to simply ice and water with clean towels and there is no redunking. Use the towel, it goes in the dirty bag and done. We just keep 200+ little hand towels on hand. Very effective to keep the girls from getting overheated in addition to proper hydration.

Monkey's Mom, RN, CVN

Actually I stated that this could potentially have adverse reactions which is in fact true depending on the body mass of the person. My point was more that there is no scientific reasoning behind using ammonia to treat dehydration. If you have evidence that supports otherwise, I stand corrected. As a nurse, I would love to hear your medical explanation of using 2 drops of ammonia to prevent overheating. If the "correct formula" prevents overheating, why have you transitioned to only water?

After seeing this done I asked our pedi.He said no ammonia .He thought coaches might be adding to get girls more alert.Stated to me do you want to cover up symptoms of dehydration for a game . He said water cool not feezing something like to much of a good thing can be bad.On real hot days take my little cooler just water please for mine.

[monkeysmom]

We have used ammonia towels in the extreme heat and it is not true that they will adversely affect health. You have to use the correct formula, 1-2 DROPS of ammonia spirits in a large cooler of ice and water with clean white towels. We have since transitioned to simply ice and water with clean towels and there is no redunking. Use the towel, it goes in the dirty bag and done. We just keep 200+ little hand towels on hand. Very effective to keep the girls from getting overheated in addition to proper hydration.

Monkey's Mom, RN, CVN

Actually I stated that this could potentially have adverse reactions which is in fact true depending on the body mass of the person. My point was more that there is no scientific reasoning behind using ammonia to treat dehydration. If you have evidence that supports otherwise, I stand corrected. As a nurse, I would love to hear your medical explanation of using 2 drops of ammonia to prevent overheating. If the "correct formula" prevents overheating, why have you transitioned to only water?

Actually as I stated the ammonia spirits is for the ice towels to keep the girls from getting overheated, not to treat hydration. We used the ammonia spirits to keep the bacteria count down and the water stayed colder for longer (believe it or not). We transitioned to only ice and water because the ammonia spirits are not easy to find, it is not the ammonia you find on your cleaning isle at walmart.

AND "As a nurse, I would love to hear your medical explanation" sarcastic much? Don't make me get out my inner beaaatcchh!