With summer just around the corner, the President´s 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
