Inclement Weather - Heat Policy

Heat Guidelines and Exertional Heat Illness Policy

Introduction

Heat illness and injury can range from a simple muscle cramp to life-threatening heatstroke. Catastrophic heat injuries are preventable. Following the recommendations found in this document, the risk of heat injuries can be reduced significantly. The most important components in preventing heat injury are the prevention of dehydration and limiting activity when temperature and humidity make it near impossible for the body to cool through evaporation of sweat.

The body produces heat at rest. This heat production increases 10 to 20 times with exercise. Evaporation is the major method of cooling the body during exercise. Evaporation of sweat dissipates the heat from the core of the body, keeping the internal organs cool. Exercising in a dehydrated state reduces the ability to sweat, therefore compromising the ability to cool. Dehydration also causes a reduction in blood volume, compromising cardiac output. The air temperature and humidity have a direct effect on the efficiency of this cooling process. Based on the effects of dehydration and exercising in the heat and humidity, the following guidelines have been established to provide administrators, coaches, and athletic training staff, with a sound plan to prevent heat injury.

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Problems:

The following are common signs and symptoms related to heat illness but are not intended to represent a complete list. In the event an student-athlete is suffering from one or more of the following, the student-athlete should be referred to appropriate allied health care or medical professional for a full evaluation.

• Muscle spasms/cramps
• Heavy or profuse sweating
• Skin is flushed or cool and pale
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Rapid pulse, nausea, weakness
• Disoriented, confusion
• Elevated body core temperature
• Cessation of sweating
• Red, dry skin
• Shallow breathing and rapid pulse
• Loss of consciousness

Heat Illness/Injury Facts:

1. Adolescents take longer to acclimatize to the heat than adults
2. Weight loss of water greater than 3% of body weight significantly increases the risk of heat-related illness.
3. 1.5 times the amount of water loss must be consumed to replace lost weight.
4. Unrelated illnesses causing vomiting and/or diarrhea will increase the risk of heat-related illnesses. These conditions should be brought to the attention of the ATC and/or coaching staff before participation and close monitoring of these individuals should take place during practice sessions and competition.
5. Student-athletes taking certain medications including diuretics, antihistamines, beta-blockers, and anticholinergics are at higher risk for heat illnesses.
6. Light-colored breathable clothing can assist the body in cooling.

Acclimatization to Heat:

Another way to help prevent heat stress is to become acclimatized to the weather. Acclimatization means becoming adapted to the weather or climate. The process takes 7 to 12 days. Studies have shown adolescents take longer to acclimatize to heat than adults. As a result of acclimatization, the sweating mechanism of a person is enhanced:

• onset of perspiration occurs earlier
• perspiration increases
• increase in blood volume with the more training an individual does
• improves the supply of oxygen to the muscles
• heart rate decreases
• core body temperature does not rise as high during exercise

Other facts about heat illnesses and exercising in the heat:

1. Dehydration of 1% to 2% of body weight begins to impact athletic performance
2. Dehydration greater than 3% of body weight may increase a student-athlete's risk of heat illness.
3. Sports drinks should contain less than 8% carbohydrate. Carbohydrate content greater than 8% compromises the rate of gastric emptying and should be avoided.
4. Wear lightweight and light-colored clothing
5. Avoid wearing articles that prevent water absorption
6. Early mornings commonly produce 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.
7. A mild breeze can reduce the humidity on a particular field, as well as improve the evaporative process.

Environmental Factors:

Ambient air temperature and humidity have a direct effect on the ability of a body to cool itself through the evaporation of sweat. When the air temperature is above 90, and/or the relative humidity is high, the body is at a higher risk to not effectively stay cool, which may be compounded by the level of dehydration of the body’s fluids.

GUIDELINES FOR HYDRATION AND REST BREAKS:

1. Rest time should involve both unlimited hydration intake (water or electrolyte drinks) and rest without any activity involved.
2. The site of the rest time should be a “cooling zone” and not in direct sunlight.
3. Fluid replacement should be at a rate of 24 oz for every pound of body weight lost after exercise.
4. Student-athletes are encouraged to wear sunscreen on exposed skin during hot, sunny conditions.
5. Individuals poorly acclimatized, or poorly conditioned are at increased risk for heat-related illness/injury.
6. Student-athletes having a pre-existing dehydrated state or pre-existing heat injury are at a much higher risk for heat-related illness/injury.
7. Medications including diuretics, antihistamines, beta-blockers, and anticholinergics increase the risk of heat illness/injury.
8. Overweight student-athletes are at increased risk for heat illness/injury.
9. Energy, ergogenic, and dietary supplements such as Creatine may cause an increase in dehydration and heat-related illness and/or injury.
10. All student-athletes should inform their coaches and/or athletic training staff of any pre-existing heat illness, a gastrointestinal condition, and/or medical complication before exercising in the heat.
11. Weigh student-athletes before and after each practice during hot weather. Student-athletes should conform to a restricted activity schedule if not within 1% of the previous day’s PRE-EXERCISE weight.
12. Replace fluids at a rate of 24 fluid ounces for every pound of body weight lost after exercise Student-athletes should be educated in the process of hydrating themselves as a 24 hour a day process.
13. Student-athletes should begin every athletic activity well hydrated.
14. During exercise, the average person should drink 8 – 12 oz of fluid every 20 to 30 minutes.
15. Urine color is an easy method to determine hydration status. Light yellow to clear urine indicates a well-hydrated student-athlete.
16. Water should be available to student-athletes at all times and never be withheld from exercising individuals.