Heat Stroke hits EVERYONE! - Repost for Knowledge Base

I posted this a few months ago; this info comes straight from the expert's mouths and not mine.

Preventing Body Heat Problems

Your body has three ways to shed excess heat: radiation, convection, and evaporation.

Radiation – an increase in body temperature causes the blood vessels in the skin to dilate. This pooling of blood is the reason your skin turns red when you exercise. Large quantities of blood rise to the skin surface, where heat can be radiated to the outside to cool off the body. The problem with this form of heat exchange is that the harder you exercise the more blood is required by the body for oxygen supplies, which reduces the amount of blood for radiation.

Convection – this relies on the difference between the body’s temperature and the air temperature to transfer heat from the body. The closer the air temperature is to 98.6 degrees F. (normal body temperature), the less heat is drawn off the body. So has the weather temperature increases this form of heat exchange becomes less efficient.

Evaporation – We depend mainly on this form of heat exchange to cool the body. As sweat evaporates, it cools the skin. In hotter weather you sweat more, so this system works well in high temperatures. But if the humidity is high, there is more water in the air, and less sweat is absorbed from the skin through evaporation. With no evaporation there is no cooling. SO EXERCISING IN HIGH HUMIDITY IS DANGEROUS.

Three forms of heat sickness we need to be aware of at all times in all sorts of weather.

1. Dehydrated (mild loss of water) – Feel thirsty, dry mouth – Drink water or sports drink often.
2. Heat exhaustion (due to dehydration and loss of electrolytes) – Feel light headed and dizzy, even to the point of fainting. Cooling mechanisms are working overtime so that you are sweaty, and your skin is cool and clammy. You might also have muscle cramps due to a loss of electrolytes – STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND REPORT TO A COACH, TEAM ASSISTANT, or TEAM MEDICAL AIDE IMMEDIATELY. Rest in a cool place, and replace fluids with water or an electrolyte drink (sports drink) immediately, also use wet cloths around the head and neck to assist cooling.
3. Heat stoke (MEDICAL EMERGENCY – all heat mechanisms have failed) – Temperature has risen to point where the brain’s control mechanism has been knocked out. Body temperature may go as high as 107 to 109 degrees F. The symptoms of heat stroke are red, hot skin; lack of sweating; and usually , loss of consciousness. This person needs to brought to an emergency room immediately. This is life threatening.

TEAM POLICY

All coaches and team assistants are responsible for watching players. If a player shows signs of any of these symptoms follow the below procedures immediately.

1. Dehydration – player comes to the sideline and finds a cool, shaded place. Helmet comes off, drinks water. A wet towel will be place on the back of the neck to assist in cooling. The player will drink water and stay off of the field until he has no symptoms.
2. Heat exhaustion – player comes to the sideline and is placed in a cool, shaded place. Helmet, shoulder pads come off ASAP. A wet towel will be place on neck and head along with towels under the arm pits to assist in cooling. Water will be drank and the player is not allowed to practice or play for the rest of the day. If player is still hot and showing symptoms then pants and shoes come off and wet towels are place under knees and feet
3. Heat stroke – CALL 911 and get ambulance, inform that player is down and suspect HEAT STROKE. Immediately remove helmet, pads, shoes/socks. Get wet towels on the head, neck, feet, and arm pits. Get player to drink water if possible. Place water on arms and body to assist cooling. Try to get player in a cool and shaded area. If the player needs additional cooling remove pants and add towels as well.

In the case of a HEAT STROKE ALL PLAYERS MOVE TO THE SIDELINE AND FORM A CIRCLE FACING INWARDS WITH THE TEAM CAPTIANS IN THE MIDDLE. TEAM CAPTIANS ARE IN CHARGE UNTIL A COACH COMES OVER.

CALL 911 if a HEAT STROKE happens.

Wet towels – 8 to 12 towels placed in a cooler with water and ice. Will be on site for all practices and games.

Players will drink 2 liters of water from morning to noon. One additional liter is drank one hour before practice. All players will have a water bottle with ice and water in it at all practices (1/2 gallon or gallon size).

Water should be drank throughout practice. Temperature and humidity will determine the amount of breaks taken by team.

(This information is from The National Safety Council “First Aid and CPR” manual and “Sports Injury Handbook” authored by Allan M. Levy, MD.)

Hope it helps
Coach Greg