Keeping it cool
With practices for fall sports moving into full swing and temperatures at all-time highs, we need to watch our young athletes in the heat of summer. They may try to be “cool” and not take breaks, but with temperatures near 90 degrees keeping cool is hard to do. Make sure you know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion vs. heatstroke and when to get help.
Most heat stroke deaths happen the first four days of football camp. If heat stroke is possible, it is critical that you begin cooling immediately. When untreated, heat stroke is 100 percent fatal. Treatment must begin within 20-30 minutes to prevent permanent organ damage. The good news? Treatment is completely FREE. Cool them off. Do whatever it takes. Dump the ice cooler on them, get them into the air conditioning, run the hose over them, put ice packs in the armpits, groin and neck – do whatever it takes. Start this before you even call 911.
“Have you ever wondered why the military can carry all of their gear in the 120 degree desert without getting sick? But you feel light-headed after mowing the grass in 85 degree heat?” asks Dr. Lora Scott, director of sports medicine at Dayton Children’s Hospital. “This phenomenon is called acclimatization. If you run a marathon, you develop a training schedule to prepare. If you spend time in the heat, you need to train your body for the heat.”
“The biggest risk of exercising in the heat is heat stroke. This is a deadly condition where the body temperature rises faster than the body can cool off. Athletes who are fully acclimatized and well hydrated have a lower risk of heat stroke, but it can still happen to anyone.” says Dr. Scott.
Acclimatization describes subtle changes the body makes as it adapts, including how much we sweat, the salt content of the sweat, where the blood is directed in the body, and the best timing for this new cooling system to kick in. It takes about 40 hours of physical activity in the heat for our bodies to fully acclimatize. These 40 hours should be spread out across 10 days or longer.
Dr. Scott describes the differences between heat stroke and heat exhaustion below
Heat stroke:
■ Severe headache
■ Weakness, dizziness
■ Confusion
■ Fast breathing and heartbeat ■ Loss of consciousness (passing out)
■ Seizures
■ Little or no sweating
■ Flushed, hot, dry skin
■ Body temperature rises to 105 degrees Fahrenheit
Heat exhaustion:
■ Increased thirst
■ Weakness and extreme tiredness
■ Fainting
■ Muscle cramps
■ Nausea and vomiting
■ Irritability
■ Headache
■ Increased sweating
■ Cool, clammy skin
■ Body temperatures rises, but to less than 105 degrees Fahrenheit
If you think your child has symptoms of heat stroke, get emergency medical care immediately.