Heat stroke
 

Here are some tips that I learned when I raced in West Texas that will help. Keep an ice chest full of ice and water. Place hand towels in the ice water and wrap around you neck. Also drape one over the top of your head. You need to cool the areas where the blood slows down and they are your feet, hands and the top of your head.


If you have access to running water, place the hose in your shoes and let the water run.



Good luck.


Sarge

Re: Heat stroke
 

Sarge,
Great information. Also we should be hydrating a couple of days before going to the track. Eat a couple of bananas, eat fruit. Quickest way to know you are fully hydrated is color of your urine. If it is dark your in trouble, if it is clear your good but you need to keep drinking water.

Knowing your body is key. If your on medications like many of us old geezers must take that into account. I work in the petrochemical industry and wearing frc clothing all day in Texas will get your attention!

Re: Heat stroke
 

Soak a couple of hand towels in the ice chest, place one flat on your back & chest before donning your driving jacket when getting in the car to make a pass. This has also helped me prevent sweat dripping in my eyes while trying to focus on the tree.

Re: Heat stroke
 

All great points Sarge. You are an inspiration to old and young alike. In 2001 at Byron, Illinois I survived 4 days of intense Midwest heat and humidity. It was the hottest I have ever been in my life. I have come up with a pretty good plan to battle heat stroke. When the forecast calls for 100 degree highs , just stay home in the AC. I pray for all competitors at Topeka this week.

Re: Heat stroke
 

Not only in Texas but I had a real learning experience working National Events for Bill Bader Sr. I had a volunteer crew and it was our job to make sure that the tons of rubbish that were produced by spectators and at the PRO GRIP AND GRIN centers was removed. Several events we removed more than ten tons.



Several events the real feel was more than 100 and the asphalt that we were walking on was 140. I split my crew in two and one would go clockwise and the other one went counter clockwise. It took more than an hour for each crew to service the trash cans. The worst ones were the GRIP and Grin centers and the one where all the gear is sold.



Stay strong. See you at Indy.



Sarge

Re: Heat stroke
 

Typically we always pack a cooler with bottles of water and Gatorade. The Gatorade or another brand of sportsdrink can restore your electrolytes that you lose by sweating. It has helped us beat the heat at the races for many years.

Re: Heat stroke
 

I know these are expensive now but I don't understand why more people don't use them. I have had one for years and use it any time it's over 95°. Many times I'm sitting in my car suited with this on and everyone else is sweating their butt of waiting to run. I won't even be sweating.



I put 3 4x6 freezer packs and a couple handfuls of ice in the water for a run. It will last you a good 10 minutes once you start the water running. If you are adding weight anyway this would be better to have than lead.



https://coolshirt.com/product/drag-pack/


^^^

Re: Heat stroke
 

It's easy for anybody to get locked into the macho and bulletproof thoughts, but it's not always a good thing.

A long time ago, I ran across a NASA study that focused on environmental stresses affecting human functions. They found a huge difference during adverse conditions. But technology improved, I built new computers, and somehow I lost the link and haven't been able to find it since.

We're talking about heat in this thread. It will absolutely, positively affect your ability to think, concentrate, and react. If the racer in the other lane has body temperature a noticeable amount cooler than yours, you're probably going to lose. Of course, that's assuming that person is not one of the Terminators with cyborg like performances pass after pass.

One of the drivers I worked with actually got a coolsuit/helmet (nascar technology) and though he caught a huge amount of flack for using it - stuff like getting called a wuss and real racers don't worry about the heat. Even though looking back I'm not sure he had the equipment for it to matter, the data was clear. His shift points and reaction times greatly improved on very hot days, same track, same setup, etc.

Long winded way of saying that even though keeping yourself away from heat exhaustion or heat stroke is the main point, it's something every racer who wants to be competitive should pay a lot of attention to. Of course for the reaction time, but especially now that rapid decision making at the finish line is now the norm.

Re: Heat stroke
 

Had exhaustion once in Tucson. I was so happy to lose first round saturday went to hotel stayed until noon sunday felt good enough to drive home. Always load up on water and if your kidneys are weak 50/50 Gatorade as electrolytes are to strong and can give more harm then good. Also my employer had salt ta let's to help retain water.

Re: Heat stroke
 

Drink water, etc. every chance you get even if you're not thirsty. When you realize you're thirsty, it's too late, you're already dehydrated. You won't have to go to the bathroom as much either. In certain situations, especially if it's hot but humidity is down, you won't even know you're sweating because it will evaporate before getting your clothes wet or running down your brow.

I always brought the biggest cooler I could carry and sometimes an extra case of water. Had a box fan and a garden sprayer for the car too!