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Heat-Related Illness/Stress
With summer just around the corner,
the Presidentīs Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
reminds parents, coaches, athletes and camp counselors
to be aware of the dangers of heat-related illness and
stress. From professional athletes training long
and hard for high-profile sporting events to children
at play in schools, parks and backyards, no one is immune
to heat-related illness, stress and death.
We call on all concerned individuals
and groups -- health care professionals; school and
community leaders; teachers and coaches; athletes and
their families -- to take measures to reduce illnesses
and deaths caused by heat.
We encourage communities to:
- Promote on-going, open dialogues among health care
professionals, athletes and those responsible for
their training to insure that both players and trainers
know the facts about heat related illness and
- Develop standardized policies to protect athletes
from heat-related illness.
We call on coaches and trainers
to:
- Understand and consider heat, humidity and other
environmental risks in scheduling work-out times,
water breaks and rest periods;
- Take seriously an athlete's report of a heat stress
symptom or expressed need for water or rest; avoid
chastising or humiliating players who report symptoms
of heat-related illness or request water and rest;
- Modify training to account for environmental conditions
as well as an athlete's age, level of conditioning
and individual identified health risks;
- Observe athletes closely and act immediately when
you suspect heat-related illness.
Indicators of illness related to
heat may include:
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Irritability, agitation, impaired judgement, loss
of consciousness
To reduce heat-related illnesses and
deaths, sports participants, competitive athletes and
individuals seeking to improve and maintain health and
fitness through sports should:
- Seek appropriate advice from a physician before
beginning an athletic program;
- Drink at least 16-32 ounces of water or other cool,
non-alcoholic fluids per hour (note: although
sports beverages can replace salt and minerals lost
in sweat, people on a low salt diet should drink such
beverages only after consulting a physician to determine
which if any is appropriate); Athletes should stay
well hydrated not just during training and performance
but also in the time following athletic activity.
- Increase exposure to heat slowly in the beginning
of training, then gradually increase exposure for
longer periods of time;
- Wear loose-fitting clothes that "breathe"
to facilitate circulation and cooling;
- Wear light-colors to reflect the sun's heat;
- Be sensitive to messages from your body that say
a heat-related illness may be developing (weakness,
dizziness, nausea, headache, dry mouth). Report such
symptoms to your coach or trainer.
- Ask your coach or trainer for a rest or water break
when you feel you need them.
Standard policies and practices for
athletes and trainers, combined with widespread education
about heat exhaustion, could significantly reduce the
tragedy of heat-related death. Although good training
is critical to success in competitive sports -- for
individuals and teams alike -- athletes' health and
safety must take precedence.
Additional information about heat-related
conditions can be found on the web site of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/nceh/hsb/extremeheat.
Lisa E. Oliphant
Executive Director
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
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