Play Avurudu games in the sun carefully

Mr. Robin Jaans, President of the Government Physiotherapists' Association, urges the public to exercise extreme caution when engaging in outdoor sports during the upcoming Sinhala and Tamil New Year season, given the prevailing high-temperature weather conditions. He points out that it is a timely necessity to pay special attention to participating in traditional games while being directly exposed to sunlight, especially during New Year festivals.

The President emphasizes that excessive sweating due to intense sunlight leads to a significant loss of water and salts from the body, which can cause various health problems. This can result in conditions such as decreased body water percentage, muscle cramps, extreme fatigue, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, and sometimes even life-threatening situations. Accordingly, in addition to individuals who exercise or work in the sun for long periods, school children, the elderly, pregnant mothers, heart patients, those with chronic diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes, and those engaged in sports training are at a high risk of being severely affected by this condition.

To minimize this risk, it is advisable to stay away from sports and training activities as much as possible during the period from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, when temperatures are highest. Instead, the Government Physiotherapists' Association advises choosing the morning or evening for such activities. Furthermore, since water is rapidly lost through sweat, it is essential to drink adequate water before starting any activity, every 15 to 20 minutes during the activity, and at the end.

Mr. Robin Jaans further stated that if one experiences a headache, dizziness, vomiting, or extreme muscle fatigue while engaging in any activity during the New Year season, immediate attention should be paid to it. Additionally, if symptoms such as muscle cramps, excessive sweating or sudden cessation of sweating, difficulty breathing or walking, disorientation, or loss of attention occur, all activities should be stopped immediately, and one should rest in a safe place.

Therefore, it is imperative that the parties organizing this year's New Year festivals also pay close attention to these health-protective measures. It is the responsibility of the organizers to arrange shaded areas for competitors to rest, provide adequate clean drinking water, allow breaks during competitions for continuous water intake, and have emergency medical facilities ready. He also pointed out that many health risks can be avoided by taking steps to prevent athletes from staying in the sun for unnecessarily long periods.