Football season is just around the corner and many local teams have started preparing for the upcoming season.

Players and coaches alike are concerned about practicing in the heat.

As we approach one of the hottest months of the year, Acadian Ambulance says prevention is most important when being active in the extreme heat.

The Acadiana High School football team has already begun practice and summer workouts.

But the recent heat spike has caused some changes for team’s practice schedule.

Acadiana High School’s certified athletic trainer, Kyle Lancon says the player’s safety is most important, “coming from the school board they told us we can’t do anything, indoors, outdoors. Any type of sporting activity from ten to five. It’s just not safe. It’s not worth trying to risks a young kids well being.”

The number one way to avoid heat related injuries is through drinking lots of water and fluids, according to Lancon. And the best way to stay hydrated is to start early.

“I think a lot of what people don’t understand is that hydration has to be an everyday thing. You can’t say Ok I’ve got practice at 5 today and then start drinking a bottle of water at three. It’s not going to work. It’s got to be something that’s got to be routine, every day. You got to be drinking all day every day, ” Lancon tells KLFY.

Jennifer Melancon, the Education Coordinator for Acadian Companies, says heat related injuries aren’t uncommon during the summer months. In fact, there is a noticeable rise in the number of patients coming in with heat related injuries.

“Definitely this time of year there is an increase in heat related emergencies. Both with our sports related groups as well as just people working in there yards gardening, cutting the grass,” Melancon says.

Which is one of the reasons why an Acadian Ambulance is on standby at local football games.

Melancon says learning to prevent these injuries is the best way for players to keep themselves safe while outside during the hot summer months.

She also stresses to drink plenty of fluids because the body needs more than water to replenish itself after activity in the heat.

“You also need other things (fluids) as well. Things that have electrolytes and vitamins and sugar in it,” Melancon explains.

If you or someone you know experiences symptoms of heat exhaustion, call 911 immediately.