Heat illness and injury can range from a simple muscle cramp to life threatening heat stroke. Catastrophic heat injuries are preventable. Current best practice guidelines suggest that the risk of exertional heat injuries can be minimized with heat acclimatization and attention to monitoring individuals participating in activities that place them at a higher risk for these types of injuries.
National governing bodies, such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and numerous state athletic/activity associations have published guidelines for the prevention, monitoring and treatment of exertional heat illnesses. In addition, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and the Korey Stringer Institute have published research to support best practices in this area. The development of Southern Wesleyan University’s Heat Acclimatization Guidelines will be based on the current best practices documents.
Heat Illness/Injury Facts:
- Early morning commonly produces a humid environment and lower temperatures. Usually, as the sun rises, the temperature will increase and the humidity decreases. As the evening hours approach, the temperature decreases and the humidity will rise. Often, the most critical times to monitor the athletes’ ability to exercise in hot weather occurs when the temperature rises quickly during the early morning prior to the sun burning off the humidity, or during storms when the humidity remain high due to cloud cover, etc.
- Unrelated illnesses causing vomiting and/or diarrhea will increase the risk of heat illnesses. These conditions should be brought to the attention of the ATC and/or coaching staff prior to participation and close monitoring of these individuals should take place during practice sessions and competition.
- Athletes taking certain medications including diuretics, antihistamines, beta blockers and anti-cholinergics are at higher risk for heat illnesses.
- Athletes who are overweight, poorly conditioned, recovering from illness, lacking in sleep, or taking certain medications should be monitored closely and/or have their participation level modified.
Definitions:
- Acclimatization- The process of gradually increasing the intensity of activity in a progressive manner that improves the body’s ability to adapt to and tolerate exercise in the heat.
- Wet Bulb Globe Temperature- The WBGT is a measurement tool that uses ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind and solar radiation from the sun to get a comprehensive measure that can be used to monitor environmental conditions during exercise. WBGT is different than heat index, as it is a more comprehensive measurement of environmental heat stress on the body.
- Non-Practice Activities- Activities that include meetings, injury treatment, and film study.
- Practice- the period of time that a student-athlete engages in coach-supervised, school approved sport or conditioning related- activity. Practice time includes from the time the players report to the field until they leave.
- Rest Breaks- This period of time occurs during practice and is a non-activity time that is in a ‘cool zone’ out of direct sunlight.
- Cool Zone- An area out of direct sunlight with adequate air flow to assist in cooling. Cold fluids, a cold-water or ice tub, ice towels or ice bags should be available to cool a suspected heat illness.
- Dehydration- A dangerous loss of body fluid caused by illness, sweating or inadequate intake.
- Evaporation- A change from a liquid to vapor form; loss of volume of a liquid by conversion into vapor
- Exertional Heat Stroke (EHS)- Defined as having a rectal temperature over 104°F-105°F (40.5°C) and central nervous system dysfunction.
- Central Nervous System Dysfunction- includes any sign or symptom that the central nervous system is not working properly, including: dizziness, drowsiness, irrational behavior, confusion, irritability, emotional instability, hysteria, apathy, aggressiveness, delirium, disorientation, staggering, seizures, loss of consciousness, coma, etc.
