[MR] Fwd: Heat Stroke Kills Viking

[Aedan Aylwyn]

This msg is forwarded from the EK list...

Aedan

>Greetings, all...
>
>With Pennsic fast approaching, I want to take a moment and ask everyone who
>wears armor of any kind at Pennsic to read the following link (I'll wait).
>
>http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010801/ts/fbn_vikings_stringer.html
>
>Why am I posting this??
>
>Because its a sobering reminder......
>
>HEAT STROKE CAN KILL YOU.
>
>This pro-football player had access to some of the best medical care that
>money could buy, and to cold drinks, iced towels, and even air
>conditioning - all things that could be used in a timely manner to manage
>his condition *if* he had acknowledged his illness in time.  Ultimately, he
>died because he pushed himself too far, and ignored the signs of impending
>illness.
>
>I don't mean to sound harsh ... but its important to make the point clearly:
>THIS COULD BE YOU.
>
>Lest you think this is an isolated incident, a Florida State University
>football player also died of heatstroke not ten days ago
>(http://espn.go.com/ncf/news/2001/0728/1232237.html) and at least 18 high
>school or college football players have died since 1995 because of heat
>stroke, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury
>Research.
>
>The equipment that we wear, and the things that we do, are not so very
>different from football.  Heavy, non-breathable armor.  Periods of intense
>exertion followed by breaks where we stand around in the sun.
>
>Guys (and ladies, too), nobody will think you're strong and cool and
>impressive for pushing yourself to your limits, and then ending up at the
>hospital.  Everybody will think you're strong and cool and impressive if you
>know your own limits and know when to stop and when to ask for help when you
>need it.
>
>I know that some of you haven't fought in a year or more, but are eager to
>strap on the old armor to fight at this milestone Pennsic ... Pennsic 30 ...
>and that's great.  But if you don't pay attention to the things your body is
>telling you ... if you don't pay attention to warning signs (muscle cramps,
>nausea, weakness and lightheadedness, headache, pale skin, rapid weak pulse,
>vomiting), then it is very, very likely that you'll end up laid up in camp
>for the rest of the war ... if you don't end up at Butler County Hospital.
>Or, as we've seen here, you could also end up dead.
>
>Sit in the shade.  Take frequent breaks.  Stay hydrated.  Know your own body
>and your own limits.
>
>Its so simple.
>
>Take good care of yourself, and have a great Pennsic!!
>
>Anastasia

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Baron Aedan Aylwyn, Provost                     Caer Mear, Atlantia
Email: aedan at mindspring.com                     Royal Bad Influence - Retired
Academie d'Espee: http://www.mindspring.com/~aedan
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