Sports Injuries: Heat Illnesses

Sports Injuries: Heat Illnesses

Heat illnesses occur when your young athlete is exposed to extremely high temperatures and humidity, and their body is unable to cool down. Types of heat illness can range in severity, from mild cramps to life-threatening heat stroke.

Heat Illness Prevention

Heat illnesses are 100% preventable. Make sure that your young athlete:

• Gets a pre-participation exam to identify their risk for heat illness

• Talks to their physician to see if any medications they take put them at a higher risk for heat illness

• Wears clothing that is lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting during activity in the heat

• Avoids sunburn

• Drinks plenty of fluids and stays hydrated throughout the day

• Gives their body time to adjust to the heat

• Avoids the heat during off-days or off-times

Heat illnesses occur when your young athlete is exposed to extremely high temperatures and humidity, and their body is unable to cool down. Types of heat illness can range in severity, from mild cramps to life-threatening heat stroke.

Other ways to protect young athletes include:

• Providing education for young athletes about heat illness

• Monitoring weight loss via weight charts, to record pre- and post-practice weight: If there is more than a 3% weight loss prior to the next exercise session, avoid activity in the heat

• Planning rest breaks ahead of time, and modifying the work to rest ratio based on the heat

• Providing a cooling station during activities in a high heat and high humidity environment