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Athletes who exercise in hot or humid weather are prone to heat illnesses:

• Heat cramps

• Heat exhaustion

• Heatstroke

In addition to educating young athletes about both the importance of hydration and the dangers of heat-related illness, ensuring that they drink enough fluids, and taking precautions to reduce the risk of heat injury in children in hot and humid weather, you need to watch your child for symptoms of impending heat illness:

Why Athletes Should Never Take Salt Tablets Athletes should never take salt tablets because they: Don't help performance Contribute to dehydration by causing extra water to enter the stomach and drawing it away from other body tissues, Increase the risk of heat illness; and Irritate the stomach lining and can cause nausea Heat cramps are likely caused by losses of water and electrolytes (salt and potassium) from excessive sweating. The priority for any athlete should be to replace that water and electrolytes, such as by drinking a sports drink.

• Weakness

• Chills

• Goose pimples on the chest and upper arms

• Nausea

• Headache

• Faintness

• Disorientation

• Muscle cramping

• Reduced or cessation of sweating

A child continuing to exercise when experiencing any of these symptoms could suffer a heat illness.

Heat Cramps

Overview

• Mildest form of heat illness.

• No medical attention required

• Usually occurs during or after exercise

• Usually affects only specific muscles exercised

• Probably results from an imbalance of the body's fluid and electrolyte concentrations caused by a loss of electrolytes in sweat

Symptoms:

• Thirst

• Chills

• Clammy skin

• Throbbing heart

• Muscle pain

• Spasms

• Nausea

Treatment:

• Move child to shade

• Remove excess clothing

• Have child drink 4 to 8 ounces of fluid with electrolytes (sports drinks) every 10 to 15 minutes

• Add salt to foods (not by giving salt tablets)(see sidebar)

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Reprint Policy

Article Updated: August 25, 2007

 Dehydration: The Warning Signs

 Dehydration & Electrolytes: A Primer

 Fluid Guidelines For Young Athletes

 Heat Illnesses: Symptoms And Treatment

 How To Ensure That Your Child Gets Adequate Fluids While Playing Sports

 NOAA Heat Index Chart

 Nutritional Needs Of Youth Athletes: An Overview

 Preventing Heat Illnesses In Youth Athletes

 Studies Show Sports Drinks Best For Young Athletes

 Ten Steps To Preventing Heat Stroke

 When To Modify Or Cancel Practices Because Of The Heat And/Or Humidity

 Why Children Have Special Fluid Needs

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