HEAT ILLNESSES CAN BE SEVERE MEDICAL PROBLEMS. ADDITIONALLY EVEN SLIGHT DEHYDRATION CAN DECREASE THE PERFORMANCE OF ATHLETES

• EVAPORATION REMOVES THE MOST HEAT FROM THE BODY
• THE BODY USES BLOOD TO CARRY HEAT TO THE SKIN TO BE RELEASED
• SWEAT CARRIES THE HEAT INTO THE AIR

HEAT ILLNESS CAN BE PREVENTED

THE RESPONSIBILITY IS SHARED BY THE ATHLETE & THE COACH/TRAINER

ATHLETE RESPONSIBILITIES

1.        ATHLETES SHOULD BE IN GOOD SHAPE.  SUMMER WEIGHTS, RUNNING PROGRAMS PREPARE THE ATHLETE FOR THE STRESSES THAT COME WITH THE START OF PRACTICE.  YOUNGER ATHLETES SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES THAT WILL ACCLIMATE THEM TO THE HEAT

2.        ATHLETES SHOULD INCREASE THEIR FLUID INTAKE.  10-12 CUPS (80-96 OZ.)  IS NEEDED TO MEET DAILY NEEDS.  THESE FLUIDS SHOULD BE WATER AND SPORTS DRINK.  CAFFEINATED DRINKS CAUSE DEHYDRATION.  CARBONATED DRINKS MAY BE IRRITATING TO THE STOMACH AND CAUSE THE ATHLETE TO DRINK LESS

3.        ATHLETES SHOULD DRINK FLUIDS THROUGHOUT THE DAY.  THIRST IS NOT A GOOD INDICATOR OF FLUID LEVEL, SO THE ATHLETE SHOULD DRINK ON A SCHEDULE

4.      DURING PRACTICE, ATHLETES SHOULD DRINK FLUIDS AT EVERY OCCASION

5.      AFTER PRACTICE THE ATHLETES SHOULD DRINK AT LEAST 24 OZ.

6.        MONITOR COLOR OF URINE, LIGHT COLORED (WEAK LEMONADE) URINE MEANS THE ATHLETE IS HYDRATED.  DARK YELLOW URINE MEANS THERE IS A DEFICIT

7.      WHERE LOOSE FITTING, LIGHT COLORED, COTTON BLEND COLTHING TO HELP COOL

COACH/TRAINER RESPONSIBILITIES

1.        HAVE A PLAN!  FOR HOT WEATHER PRACTICES, AND HEAT ILLNESS VICTIMS

2.        KNOW THE TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY.  HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS MAKE IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR BODY TO COOL ITSELF THROUGH PERSPIRATION

3.      GIVE ATHLETES UNLIMITED ACCESS TO WATER, SPORTS DRINK

4.        HAVE WATER BREAKS BUILT INTO PRACTICE SCHEDULES.  MAKE MANDATORY THAT THE ATHLETES DRINK DURING THAT TIME

5.      SCHEDULE PRACTICE TIMES AT COOLER TIMES OF THE DAY

6.        GIVE BREAKS TO ALLOW ATHLETES TO COOL DOWN PERIODICALLY.  MAY USE ICE TOWELS, MIST FANS OR SIMPLY DUMPING WATER OVER THEIR HEADS

7.        DECREASE THE INTENSITY OF PRACTICE IN HIGH HEAT AND HUMIDITY SITUATIONS.  LIMIT AMOUNT OF PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

8.      LIMIT CONDITIONING IN HIGH RISK CONDITIONS

9.      ALL COACHES SHOULD KNOW SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESSES

TYPES OF HEAT ILLNESS

THREE TYPES OF HEAT ILLNESSES OCCUR:

1. HEAT EXHAUSTION

2. HEAT CRAMPS

3. HEAT STROKE

RECOGNIZING AND TREATING HEAT ILLNESSES

HEAT CRAMPS

MUSCLE TWITCHING

CRAMPING.  USUALLY OCCURS IN LOWER LEGS, HAMSTRINGS, AND IN SEVERE CASES IN ABDOMINALS

TREATMENT-

GIVE DILUTED SPORTS DRINK

WATER

STRETCHING

SEVERE CASES MAY REQUIRE I.V. FLUIDS

HEAT EXHAUSTION

EXCESSIVE THIRST

DRY MOUTH

FATIGUE

LOSS OF COORDINATION

DIZZINESS

NAUSEA

VOMITING

DIARRHEA

SKIN COLD AND CLAMMY

MENTAL CONFUSION.

TREATMENT –

GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE BODY’S CORE TEMPERATURE! 

MUST GIVE WATER AND ELECTROLYTE SOLUTIONS

REMOVE UNIFORM AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

USE ICE TOWELS

MOVE ATHLETE INTO COOLER AIR OR SHADE

POUR COLD WATER OVER THEM,

HEAT STROKE

HOT, DRY SKIN

NAUSEA

VOMITING

DISORIENTATION

LOSS OF COORDINATION

POSSIBLE UNCONSCIOUSNESS OR COMA

DIZZINESS

MENTAL CONFUSION

TREATMENT –

THIS IS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY!  CALL FOR EMERGENCY HELP. 

DO ANYTHING POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE BODY’S CORE TEMPERATURE.  GIVE WATER IF CONSCIOUS

REMOVE PADS AND CLOTHING

MOVE TO COOLER PLACE