Types of heat illnesses
Athletes who exercise in hot or humid weather are particularly at risk of heat illnesses:
- Heat cramps
- Heat exhaustion
- Heatstroke
Symptoms of impending heat illness
In addition to educating young
athletes about both the importance of hydration and the dangers of
heat-related illness, ensuring that they drink enough fluids , and taking precautions to reduce the risk of heat injury in children in hot and humid weather,
you need to watch your child for symptoms of impending heat illness:
- Weakness
- Chills
- Goose pimples on the chest and upper arms
- Nausea
- Headache
- Faintness
- Disorientation
- Muscle cramping
- Reduced or cessation of sweating
A child continuing to exercise when experiencing any of these symptoms could suffer a heat illness.
Heat cramps
Overview
- Mildest form of heat illness.
- No medical attention required
- Usually occurs during or after exercise
- Usually affects only specific muscles exercised
- Probably results from an imbalance of the body's fluid and electrolyte concentrations caused by a loss of electrolytes in sweat
Symptoms:
- Thirst
- Chills
- Clammy skin
- Throbbing heart
- Muscle pain
- Spasms
- Nausea
Treatment:
- Move child to shade
- Remove excess clothing
- Have child drink 4 to 8 ounces of fluid with electrolytes (sports drinks) every 10 to 15 minutes
- Add salt to foods (not by giving salt tablets )
Heat Exhaustion
Overview:
- More serious heat illness
- May require medical attention
- Probably
results from a reduced blood volume due to excessive sweating, which
causes blood to pool in the extremities, causing the child to faint or
feel dizzy.
Symptoms:
- Nausea
- Extreme fatigue
- Reduced sweating
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Weak, rapid pulse
- Dry mouth
- Rectal temperature less than 104?F.
Treatment:
- Move child to cool place
- Have child drink 16 ounces of fluid containing electrolytes (i.e. sports drinks) for every pound of weight lost
- Remove sweaty clothes
- Place ice behind child's head
- Seek medical attention, if no improvement
Heat Stroke
Overview:
- Life-threatening medical emergency requiring immediate action
- Body's temperature-regulating processes stop functioning
- Left untreated, results in death due to collapse of circulatory system and damage to central nervous system
- Until medical help arrives, key is to immediately lower elevated body temperature ("cool first, transport second")
Symptoms:
- No sweating
- Dry, hot skin
- Swollen tongue
- Visual disturbances
- Rapid pulse
- Unsteady gait
- Fainting
- Low blood pressure
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Loss of consciousness
- Shock
- Excessively high rectal temperature (over 105.8 degrees Farenheit.)
Treatment:
- Call 911
- Remove sweaty clothes
- Ice-water or cold-water immersion. When not feasible, immediate and continual dousing with water (either from a hose or multiple water containers) combined with fanning and continually rotating cold, wet towels
on head and neck until immersive cooling can
occur.
Teaser title:
Recognizing and Treating Heat Illnesses
Teaser text:
Athletes who exercise in hot or humid weather are prone to three different types of heat illnesses: heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Links:
[1] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/871
[2] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/864
[3] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/281
[4] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/865
[5] https://mail.momsteam.com/alpha/features/nutrition/electrolytes.shtml
[6] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/292
[7] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/2446
[8] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/1480
[9] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/hydration-safety/ice-water-immersion-best-treating-exertional-heat-stroke
[10] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/hydration-safety/when-too-hot-for-sports-depends-on-heat-index
[11] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/hydration-safety/heat-illnesses/ways-to-prevent-heat-stroke-in-student-athletes
[12] https://mail.momsteam.com/sports/football-tackle/safety/preventing-heat-illness-during-summer-football-practice
[13] https://mail.momsteam.com/nutrition/sports-hydration/fluid-guidelines/sports-drinks-best-at-keeping-sports-active-kids-hydrated
[14] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/hydration-safety/cancel-modify-games-practices-heat-humidity
[15] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/hydration-safety/heat-index-measures-risk-heat-illness-for-athletes