SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN DANCING

Learning Observe Personal Safety Protocol to avoid

Competency: dehydration, overexertion & hyperthermia during
MVPAS participation.
Topic:
DEHYDRATION
OVEREXERTION
HYPERTHERMIA
PEOPLE DANCE
FOR A VARIETY
OF REASONS:
FOR FUN
RECREATION
AND FOR
HEALTH.
 DANCING IS A
GREAT WAY TO BE
MORE ACTIVE
AND OFFERS A
WIDE RANGE OF
PHYSICAL
AND
MENTAL
BENEFITS.
 HOWEVER, THE
RANGE OF BODY
MOVEMENTS,
REPETITION AND
SPEED OF
MOVEMENT CAN
PUT YOU AT RISK.
 DEHYDRATION
it occurs when you use or lose
more fluid than you take in,
and your body doesn't have
enough water and other fluids
to carry out its normal
functions.
WATER MAKES UP APPROXIMATELY 60%
OF BODY WEIGHT AND IS THE LARGEST
COMPONENT OF THE HUMAN BODY . THE
MUSCLES WE WORK SO HARD TO
DEVELOP AS DANCERS (SKELETAL
MUSCLES) ARE ABOUT 73% WATER, YOUR
BLOOD IS ABOUT 93% WATER AND EVEN
BONES AND TEETH CONTAIN SOME
WATER.
WHY DO DANCERS NEED TO STAY
HYDRATED?
IT’S IMPORTANT FOR
DANCERS TO KNOW THAT
BEING PROPERLY
HYDRATED HELPS KEEP
THE BODY FROM
OVERHEATING. HELPING
THE BODY PROMOTE HEAT
LOSS WHEN DANCING
FULL OUT WILL IMPROVE
ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
AND AID IN RECOVERY.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY
IMPORTANT FOR DANCERS
WEARING HOT COSTUMES AND
PERFORMING UNDER STAGE
LIGHTS. SWEAT LOSSES
DURING PERFORMANCE CAN
BE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE
THAN DURING REHEARSAL OF
THE SAME PIECE. THIS IS WHY
DRINKING REGULARLY (EVEN
SMALL, REGULAR SIPS) IS AN
IMPORTANT HABIT DURING A
SHOW.
SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATION INCLUDE :

DIZZINESS
DRY MOUTH
EXTREME THIRST
FEELING FAINT OR LIGHTHEADED
LESS FREQUENT URINATION
TIREDNESS
WEAKNESS
 OVEREXERTION

It occurs when people push themselves

too hard during physical activities like
Dancing
SIGNS OF OVEREXERTION INCLUDE:

• dizziness
• feeling faint
• lightheadedness
• nausea
• shortness of breath
• thirst
• vomiting
 TO AVOID PHYSICAL OVEREXERTION:

= practice good posture

= utilize ergonomic workspaces
= lift lighter loads and use proper lifting techniques
= decrease the distance you must stretch to lift a heavy object
= take frequent breaks from physically repetitive and challenging activities
include strength training and stretching in your regular exercise
routine
= know and respect your body’s limits
 HYPERTHERMIA
refers to a group of heat-related
conditions characterized by an
abnormally high body temperature in
other words, the opposite of
hypothermia. The condition occurs
when the body's heat-regulation
system becomes overwhelmed by
outside factors, causing a person's
internal temperature to rise.
 HYPOTHERMIA

- It usually happens when the body easily loses

temperature. A person suffers hypothermia
when his or her body temperature drops below
35 degrees Celsius.
 This stage of
hyperthermia causes:
• excessive sweating
• exhaustion
• flushed or red skin
• muscle cramps, spasm, and pain
• headache or mild light-
headedness
• nausea
 HEAT FATIGUE
• If long hours in high heat are causing you
physical discomfort and psychological
stress, you may be dealing with heat
fatigue. People who aren’t used to
extremely hot weather or hot working
conditions are especially vulnerable to heat
fatigue.
• In addition to simply feeling hot, thirsty,
and tired, you may have difficulty
concentrating on your work. You may even
lose coordination.
 HEAT SYNCOPE
• Syncope, also known as fainting, occurs when
your blood pressure drops and blood flow to
the brain is temporarily reduced.
• Fainting is often preceded by dizziness or
lightheadedness. You may feel close to
fainting, but if you relax and cool down
quickly, you may prevent actually losing
consciousness. Putting your legs up can help.
 HEAT CRAMPS

• Heat cramps usually follow

intense exertion or exercise in the
heat. They’re usually the result of
an electrolyte imbalance and are
typically felt in the abdomen, leg,
or arm muscles.
 HEAT EXHAUSTION
• Common to dancers
-This is one of the most serious stages of hyperthermia. Heat
exhaustion occurs when your body can’t cool itself any more.
In addition to sweating profusely, you may experience:
• dizziness
• weakness
• thirst
• coordination issues
• trouble concentrating
• skin that’s cool and clammy
• rapid pulse
 IF YOU’RE FEELING SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS, GET TO A
COOLER AREA AND REST. START DRINKING WATER OR
OTHER FLUIDS WITH ELECTROLYTES THAT WILL HELP
RESTORE HYDRATION. ELECTROLYTES ARE SUBSTANCES IN
THE BODY, SUCH AS CALCIUM, SODIUM, AND POTASSIUM
THAT KEEP YOU HYDRATED. THEY HELP REGULATE YOUR
HEART RATE, NERVE FUNCTION, AND MUSCLE HEALTH.
 REFERENCES:

• https://www.danceinforma.com/2012/07/03/hydration-for-dancers/
• https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/dancing-preventing-injury
• https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/dehydration-and-fluid-therapy-in
-children/dehydration-in-children#v1088887
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326851#causes
• https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-540-78598-9_2