How to Keep Student Athletes Safe in Summer Heat
Many school sports teams begin practicing in the summer months. With extreme temperatures, these activities can be dangerous and even deadly.
Heat can have a debilitating effect on the body, according to the World Health Organization. Heat puts a strain on the body’s systems as it tries to cool itself. It worsens underlying illnesses such as heart disease, asthma, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. It also can cause acute kidney injury. Heat-related hospitalizations and deaths happen rapidly which means that interventions must be quick, too. Heat stress is a leading cause of weather-related death.
Student athletes exercising outdoors in the summer are at risk for heat-related illness, noted a report by Channel 10 News. Muscle cramps can be an early sign of trouble. Heat exhaustion happens when the body is at an elevated, but still safe, temperature. Heat stroke is life-threatening. The body temperature rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and it could cause confusion, collapse, or altered consciousness.
The Red Cross recommends steps to keep athletes safe when temperatures are hot. Coaches should avoid scheduling workouts outside during the hottest times of the day. They should incorporate warmups and reduce the intensity of the workouts. Coaches and trainers should plan frequent breaks about every 20 minutes for athletes to hydrate and rest in the shade. They should reduce the amount of heavy equipment worn in summer months. Importantly, they should know the signs of heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, and have an emergency plan so they can react quickly.
Of course, when a student suffers injury due to negligence, that's another matter. Tom Duffy once obtained $36,000,000 for a student who suffered a paralyzing injury on a field trip. Please contact us if you would like to discuss the details of a case involving athletic injury.