Hot weekend for annual Show-Me State Games

Thousands of athletes, coaches and spectators are braving the heat in Columbia this weekend for the 33rd annual Show-Me State Games.

“It’s been a little bit unbearable,” said Beth Bashore, an Eldon Warrior parent. “I had some concerns about playing in this extreme heat, but our boys are pretty excited and want to play no matter what.”

The Show-Me State Games kicked off Friday with outdoor events including tennis and Little League baseball. Heat indices reached triple digits Friday afternoon.

“It’s definitely the hottest,” said Jennifer Welch, a parent with the SEMO Sharks. “We’ve had a very mild season and this is pretty bad.”

Parents and coaches said they were prepared to keep their young athletes safe and cool this weekend.

“Keep them hydrated, plenty of water and Gatorade,” said Kyle Mann, a coach for the SEMO Bomb Squad. “Make sure everybody has their Frogg Toggs in the cooler, keep them cool, and give them breaks. We have 12 kids on the team, so they all get to take a break.”

The Show-Me State Games is partnering with MU Health Care to provide on-site medics and trainers at most of the events.

Just this week, MU Health Care treated 11 patients for heat-related illnesses.

Misty Jones, a clinical manager for pre-hospital services at MU Health Care, said beating the heat starts with hydrating hours if not days in advance.

“We have to be acclimated. So you can’t be sitting inside for weeks at a time playing a video game and then go outside in 100-degree temperature and be fine,” she said. “Most of those guys have been playing and they’re outside all the time and that’s a good thing.”

Jones said some symptoms of a heat-related illness include profuse sweating, nausea, dizziness, and muscle cramps. She said anyone feeling those symptoms should get out of the sun immediately and start drinking water.