In 1995, there were four heat stroke fatalities among high school and college football players in the United States. The unfortunate part is that these problems could have easily been avoided if the proper precautions were taken. During practice and games coaches should allow for the liberal intake of water, take breaks in the shade, limit exercise to a cooler part of the day, require loose fitting and light colored clothing, and keep a watchful eye on all athletes for symptoms of heat-related illnesses. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include dry mouth, thirst, elevated skin and internal temperature, headache, extreme weakness, fatigue and faintness. Treatment includes stopping exercise, administering fluids and moving to a cooler environment.
Heat stroke represents a collapse of the athlete's cooling system.
Symptoms include irrational behavior or unconsciousness, slurred speech, vomiting, possible seizures, muscle cramps and loss of muscle strength. Treatment includes contacting emergency personnel and taking aggressive steps to quickly cool body temperature by using a cool shower or ice packs. Once a person has suffered from heat stroke they are more prone to experience it again. As student athletes prepare now for their fall sports, it is possible to safely exercise in hot weather. Just follow a few simple steps to prevent any heat-related problems from occuring in the first place.