Heat in the tail end of summer creates challenges at the beginning of football season, and today’s 3 p.m. Arkansas Razorbacks kickoff coincides with the hottest part of the day.
“We are concerned about how hot it’s going to be and all the people that are going to be drinking [alcohol] prior to the ballgame,” said Steve Harrison, assistant chief for Central EMS of Washington County.
His advice to those headed to the game: “Drink plenty of water all day long, not as much alcohol and more water.”
He also suggested wearing light-colored clothes and a cap and avoiding direct sunlight.
First-aid crews expect to treat more than 100 people for heat-related symptoms at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Harrison said.
Some people could feel nausea and dizziness but still will be able to watch the game after taking time to drink water and cool off. Others could have true heat emergencies requiring IV fluids and an ambulance trip to the hospital, Harrison said.
Today’s high is forecast to reach 96 degrees by about 4 p.m., about an hour after kickoff, according to the National Weather Service.
The time for game kickoffs are determined by the television “windows” that are available, said Mark Womack, executive associate commissioner for the Southeastern Conference. Game times for SEC games were set in July for the first three weeks of the 2013 college football season, Womack said.
All SEC games are broadcast on a televised platform in coordination with CBS and ESPN. The TV window is limited and does not provide enough platforms for every game to begin at 7 p.m.
SEC teams’ start times are scheduled throughout the afternoon, starting at 11:20 a.m. today.
The Razorbacks game against the Ragin’ Cajuns from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will air on the Fox Sports Network.
“It’s warm at this time of year across the Southeast,” Womack said. “Heat’s an issue that all of our institutions face.”
The conference and university officials encourage fans to take precautions, he said.
Fans going to the game will be allowed to bring empty clear water bottles into the stadium to refill during the game, said Kevin Trainor, spokesman for the UA athletics department. Water fountains are located throughout the stadium, but the department also will provide water coolers at the permanent first-aid stations where fans can fill water bottles. Cups will be available at the water coolers, as well.
The stadium holds as many as 72,000 fans.
Umbrellas aren’t allowed in the stadium, but hats are welcome, he said.
Electric fans have been placed on the concourse and in the stadium to create additional air movement, he said.
Ushers and first-aid spotters will be looking for fans who experience distress because of the heat, Trainor said. Announcements during the game will remind visitors to drink water and to take breaks in the shade.
Trainor also recommends that tailgating fans bring waterbottles.
Staying hydrated with water and other fluids - except for alcoholic beverages - allows the body to sweat and prevents too much heat from building up, said Brendon McDermott, assistant professor of athletic training and exercise science in the UA-Fayetteville Department of Health and Human Performance.
Alcohol causes dehydration, McDermott said. Heatstroke is a risk for fans who consume alcohol and nothing else and then sit in direct sun and the heat where there is little air flow, he said.
“My recommendation would be not to play around with alcohol if you’re going to the game,” McDermott said.
Fans should find shade and drink water, sports drinks or even soda if they have an overwhelming feeling of heat, nausea or dizziness, he said.
Heat builds up over time, causing the heart rate to increase and sweating to slow down, and it can take 30 minutes to two hours to feel symptoms, McDermott said.
Harrison has scheduled more than 30 emergency medicine personnel and 20 first-aid spotters to work during the game, he said.
“It’s going to be hot,” he said.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 08/31/2013