Home » Health & Safety Channel » Heat Safety Center » Heat Illnesses - General

Heat Illnesses - General

Heat Illnesses: Basic Information

Athletes who exercise in hot or humid weather are prone to heat illnesses.  Here are the signs and symptoms of and treatment for the three kinds of heat illness: heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat
stroke.

Experts Weigh in on Preventing Exertional Heat Stroke at the Boston Marathon

Marathon weather conditions can be unpredictable, from snow squalls to extreme heat, which may lead to increased risks of life-threatening medical emergencies, including exertional heat stroke (EHS). Monitoring for early signs of an injury is critical. It's also extremely helpful to know an individual's medical history, as athletes with a history of heat illness may be more susceptible to a repeat heat illness experience.

Exertional Heat Illness Rate Highest In High School Football, Study Finds

There is good news and bad news in a new study on exertional heat illness in high school sports: the bad news is that the rate for football players is 11 times higher that of all other sports combined. The good news is that, despite a rash of heat-related deaths (6 in 2011 alone, all in football), the overall rate of EHI across all high school sports is low and dropping.

Does Genetic Mutation Explain Why Only Some Sickle Cell Trait Athletes Suffer Exertional Sickling?

Athletes with sickle cell trait (SCT) are at increased risk of life-threatening heat stroke from a condition called exertional sickling, with heat, dehydration, asthma, high-intensity exercise and high altitude known risk factors. But why do some SCT athletes never suffer from exertional sickling or heat illness while others do (with some cases resulting in death)? A new study hopes to answer that question.

Susan Yeargin (Athletic Trainer): Preventing Heat Illness Is Her Passion

In recognition of April as National Youth Sports Safety Month, MomsTeam asked 30 experts to write a blog answering two questions: first, how or why did they get into their field, and second, how have they made a difference in the life of a youth athlete in the past year.

Today, we hear once again from Susan Yeargin, a certified athletic trainer, MomsTeam's hydration expert, Assistant Professor in the Physical Education and Athletic Training Department at the University of South Carolina, and new mom!

By Susan Yeargin, PhD, ATC

An athletic trainer decides to devote her professional career to studying ways to improve child and adolescent hydration and the prevention and treatment of heat illness after learning of the death of a college football player from heat stroke.

Exertional Sickling: Serious But Survivable If Prompt Action Taken

Yvette L. Coursey, DPA, talks about how sickle cell trait, ordinarily a relatively benign condition, can cause youth engaged in sustained, intense exercise to suffer a potentially life-threatening condition called exertional sickling.  Coursey emphasizes that the condition is survivable if treated promptly.

Heat Illness Terms Defined

Sports medicine practitioners throw around a lot of different terms when it comes to heat illness.  Here are the terms as defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics in its newly revised Policy Statement on Climactic Heat Stress and Exercising Children and Adolescents.

Heat Illness Very Preventable Injury Says AAP

Exertional heat illness among youth athletes is preventable if coaches, parents and other adults take appropriate precautions, says the American Academy of Pediatrics in a new report.

Prevent Heat Illness By Empowering Parents, Expert Says

With fall sports beginning around the country, it is critically important for parents to be pro-active when it comes to preventing heat illness.  "Parents need to be empowered to question coaches," says Dr. Susan Yeargin.  "Coaches are often viewed as 'knowing best.' But that isn't always the case."
Syndicate content