A period of 7-10 days of 60 minutes acclimatisation activity each day provides substantial preparation for safe exercise in the heat. In endurance events an accomplished yet non elite runner, striving to exceed their performance may suffer from heat stress. The potential for heat related illnesses will be exacerbated if they have not acclimatised to the conditions and have failed to hydrate correctly. An overweight and unconditioned athlete will generally also be susceptible to heat stress. Age and gender of participant Female participants may suffer more during exercise in the heat, due to their greater percentage of body fat.
Young children are especially at risk in the heat.
Prior to puberty, the sweating mechanism, essential for effective cooling, is poorly developed. The ratio between weight and surface area in the child is also such that the body absorbs heat rapidly in hot conditions. In practical terms, child athletes must be protected from overexertion in hot climates, especially when required to exercise for 30 minutes or longer. Although children can acclimatise to exercise in the heat, they take longer to do so than adults. Coaches should be aware of this and limit training for non-acclimatised children during exposure to hot environments.