Last week, Doane experienced a stretch of excessive heat. Multiple practices including football, soccer and cross country got either canceled or rescheduled due to the heat. There were reports that students were bordering on heat exhaustion at the Lake Day event hosted by SPB and Delta Kappa Pi on Aug. 25, and players were cramping on the field during Doane’s football game against Graceland University on Aug. 31. Although summer is waning, the heat remains fairly high, hovering in the mid- to high 80s.
“Heat exhaustion is something that happens when we have high temperatures, high humidity and usually happens when you have strenuous activity involved. So if students are going to be outside for any period of time, hydration is very important. Try and plan out your day so you’re not outside during the hottest parts of the day,” Health & Wellness Director Andreea Baker said.
Excessive heat can result in students being overly tired, having issues with their sinuses being clogged or feeling lightheaded or sick. Baker emphasizes that water and careful planning are students’ best ways to combat the heat. Avoiding workouts in the afternoon if possible, eating well, drinking water and reporting issues with the Health Department can go a long way in protecting students’ well-being.
“Other things to look out for are chills and sweats, or a cough that just won’t go away. It’s hard too because we are getting right into harvest season. So any congestion can be compounded. When in doubt, students should talk to us. We are definitely available for them at any time,” Baker said.
The forecast for the rest of the week seems fairly favorable for Doane, as temperatures are moving away from the mid- to low 90s and more into the 80s and 70s. However, temperatures are usually cooler in the morning by a significant amount, ranging from mid-40s to mid-60s. Students should dress for the weather and expect to possibly change out sweatshirts or bulky pants as the day goes on.
