SCORE INTERNATIONAL

FACT CHECKING The biggest myth about dehydration, or heat stress as it's also called, is that it only happens during a race. The truth is dehydration can occur well before you step inside the race car. Being medically prepared and in good physical shape prior to the race, goes a long way in reducing the risk factor. Hydrating your system properly needs to be your number one goal. Don't think just because you are simply seated in your car, or on your motorcycle that you need less water. Dehydration isn't necessarily related to body position. It happens often without warning in all types of circumstances. The idea of wrapping an ice-cold towel around the neck during race prevents dehydration or lowers body temperatures. That's simply incorrect. According to Dr. Terry Trammell, noted motorsports physician and adviser to IndyCar, "Putting a wet towel, or even ice directly on your body does little to lower the body's core temperature. All it does is offer a phycological advantage. It feels good, but that's about all it does." WHAT IS DEHYDRATION? Starving the body of water is called dehydration, a term defined by the American College of Sports Medicine as weight loss exceeding one percent of a person's body weight. Among desert racers, it is so serious an issue that during the SCORE Safety Workshop this year, Trammell spoke at length on the subject, and he had only gotten started explaining the ways to prevent it. Some people think that dehydration is a minor annoyance, avoided by a few gulps of water or by drinking Gatorade at each pit DR. TERRY TRAMMELL IS A WORLD- REKNOWN EXPERT IN MOTORSPORTS INJURIES. HE SPOKE WITH SJ ABOUT HEAT RELATED ISSUES. stop. But the truth is dehydration can have lasting consequences. A well-known desert racer was recently quoted as saying after racing the SCORE Baja 500, "We survived the heat and I might be a little bit dehydrated and I've got a headache, but we are good." According to Trammell, one of the leading indicators of dehydration is a headache. While dehydration can be mild, moderate or severe, any signs of it should be dealt with immediately. Fortunately, dehydration can be prevented with some knowledge and understanding of what causes it and ways to prevent it. THE SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION So what does dehydration look like? For starters it can cause fatigue, confusion, headaches, flushed skin, and dark colored urine. Basically, dehydration is caused when fluid is lost, and chemicals like sodium and potassium are no longer being supplied to your body. Too little of these chemicals in the body can lead to life-threatening issues. Drivers and navigators are running at speeds on terrain that requires 100 percent focus, even being a little dehydrated can spell disaster. Drinking beverages containing electrolytes and carbohydrates 055 SCORE JOURNAL

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