EAST LANSING — The first big heat wave of the summer and the beginning of  another high school sports season just around the corner remind us that there are always concerns about physical activity in hot and humid conditions.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association continues its role in providing its member schools educational information to assist them in minimizing the possibility of heat-related catastrophic injuries to student-athletes.

The topic of heat-related injuries receives a lot of attention at this time of year, especially when deaths at the professional, collegiate and interscholastic levels of sport occur, and especially since they are all preventable with the proper precautions.

In football, data from the National Federation of State High School Associations shows that 33 high school players have died from heat stroke since 1995 — two occurring last year.

Each year, the MHSAA provides information to its member schools to help them prepare for hot weather practice and game conditions in the late summer and early fall.

Football practice can begin at MHSAA member schools Aug. 8, followed by all other fall sports Aug.10.

The Health & Safety Resources page of the MHSAA Website has a set of frequently asked questions about dehydration and a page dedicated to hydration and heat illness where preventative steps are outlined, as well as the signs and symptoms of heat illness and action steps to take when it is observed.   Visit MHSAA.com, click on Schools, and then on Health & Safety Resources to find the information.

“There is no excuse for any number of heat stroke deaths since they are all preventable,” said John R. Johnson, communications director for the MHSAA. “Our coaches are so much more aware of hydration and heat issues now, but you can never let your guard down. We cannot emphasize enough that water be available in unlimited quantities at all times during practices, and that coaching staffs need to be tuned into their student-athletes and be sure they are partaking of water.  If schools and their student-athletes follow these guidelines, then we minimize the risk for heat-related problems.”

Johnson added that as student-athletes work out on their own individually or with a group of teammates in informal settings during the summer, they also need to be aware of their hydration. “Getting hydrated in advance of practices and work outs is important,” Johnson said. “Hydration is an ongoing process, not just something that takes place during physical activity.”