Akili Smith wipes off sweat during Tuesday's workout. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        GEORGETOWN, Ky. - The aftereffects of Korey Stringer's death continue to be felt, even a year to the day after the former Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle participated in his team's second training-camp workout and lost consciousness in a training room.

        He died of heatstroke shortly after midnight Aug. 1.

        The Bengals, like other NFL teams, have stepped up already comprehensive measures to make sure players remain healthy while training in intense heat and humidity.

        On opening night at Bengals camp Thursday, trainer Paul Sparling spoke to players at a mandatory team meeting about the dangers of hot-weather activity. The club thought Sparling's message so important that he was the second speaker, after president Mike Brown.

        Reduced, if not gone, is the notion that going without water gives players an edge.

        Bengals coach Dick LeBeau, a former NFL defensive back for the Detroit Lions from 1959-72, said Tuesday he remembered those days.

Takeo Spikes and Brian Simmons take a water break. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        “It was supposed to toughen you up,” LeBeau said. “I don't know if it made us any tougher. It sure made us a lot thirstier. The medical knowledge today is so far advanced. When medical staffs say you need to hydrate, it's important to do that.”

        Sparling and other athletic trainers don't even want players to wait until they are thirsty.

        The Bengals promote hydration before, during and after practice. New this year at training camp are letters at every cafeteria table warning players of heat exposure.

        “Don't use thirst as your guide,” the letter reads. “If you do, you're too late.”

        Players also are warned to avoid alcohol and caffeine, which promote dehydration, and to remove their helmets as often as possible and douse their heads with water. They are told not to spend all of their off time between practices in air-conditioned rooms.

        “The idea is to make sure the players can't go anywhere without being made aware of the important role they play in this thing,” Sparling said.

        The Bengals have continued their practice of weighing players before and after practices to monitor weight loss and gain; excessive weight loss, 5-7 percent of body weight, is a sign of dehydration. Portable stations of water and electrolyte-rich sports drinks are never more than 10 or 15 yards away from players on practice fields.

        The education and constant reminders are appearing to have a positive result.

        “To my eye, I see more consumption of (liquids) than what I've seen in the past,” Sparling said.

        Defensive tackle Tony Williams, in his second season with the Bengals, was a teammate and friend of Stringer's with the Vikings.

        “Nothing positive can ever come out of a friend dying,” Williams said in a barely audible voice. “It just kind of makes everybody look at it. Any incident of a death, everybody looks at everything. It's tough, really tough. I have to be honest. It was tough last year. It's tough now.”

        Cornerback Jeff Burris, entering his first year with the Bengals after eight seasons with the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts, said Stringer's death has educated more than just professional athletes.

        “I think it's raised awareness for everybody,” said Burris, one of two Bengals players this camp to be treated with IV bags; the other was rookie linebacker Dwayne Levels.

        The message appears to have been heeded: High temperatures and humidity can kill.

        Added Sparling: “I would just say this: If the Stringer incident didn't hammer the message home, nothing will. It's one thing for a player to get hurt playing football and another thing for a player to die.”

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