The school nurse teaches an athletic coach how to prevent dehydration among athletes practicing in the hot weather. What is the best advice for the nurse to give to the coach?

Hot weather accelerates the body's loss of fluid and electrolytes during strenuous physical activity, so the nurse encourages the coach to schedule fluid breaks at 30-minute intervals so that the athletes can periodically rest and restore body fluids. Drinking fluid before and after practice is a reasonable suggestion; however, because the hot weather accelerates fluid and electrolyte losses, body fluids must be periodically replenished to maintain the fluid and electrolyte balance. Although a sodium load increases fluid retention, the nurse avoids suggesting salt tablets for the athletes because the nurse needs approval from each athlete's primary health care provider before recommending the salt. Rescheduling practice times is unrealistic.