The family of a cyclist who was fatally stricken during the first of this year's Jacksonville Sprint Triathlons has a life-saving message for athletes and others: Be aware of the dangers of hyperthermia, overheating of the body.

Nicole Baird Buchholz's family remembered her as "a rare, special individual who touched lives wherever she went." She was also an experienced athlete who knew the importance of training and staying hydrated, and "did everything right," her husband Michael said.

Nikki, 24, was part of a three-person relay team in the first sprint triathlon June 19 in Fernandina Beach, riding the bike portion of the event. But her friends and teammates shared a growing concern when she didn't return in her predicted time.

Then they heard from another participant that a cyclist had crashed. It was Nikki, and she was having seizures. She died later in a hospital.

Her husband says she was the victim of a "perfect storm" of conditions that caused her body to overheat, including prescription medications, the temperatures (only in the low 80s), the exertion of the ride, her body's natural production of serotonin, and a fluid/electrolyte imbalance that affected her metabolism. Because she was overheating "from the inside," she couldn't realize it until it was too late, he says.

Even many experienced athletes aren't aware that certain drugs can put a person at greater risk for hyperthermia, which is an inability of the body's thermostat to cope with higher temperatures. And many first responders -- particularly bystanders who might be the first to be able to help -- don't know all of the symptoms or what to do in the critical early moments, Michael says. (For instance, victims of hyperthermia can suffer seizures, as Nikki did.)

To help raise awareness of hyperthermia risks and treatment, Nikki's family and friends are working to form a nonprofit foundation to spread the word. It will be called HEAT, for Hyperthermia Emergency Awareness Training. At the second sprint triathlon, several of her friends competed as part of "Team Nikki," with T-shirts bearing the same number -- 416 -- that Nikki had worn in the first one. They also had an informational booth where they posted an account of what happened, and information on signs, causes and treatment of hyperthermia.

"Team Nikki" hopes that everyone, especially runners, triathletes and others who train in hot conditions, will take the information to heart. Through their efforts, they hope to continue her legacy of touching people's lives.