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Heat Stroke - Prevention

SmartTeams™ Talk: Preventing Heat Illness - Three Tips for Parents

Make fluids readily available at games and practices, pay extra attention to hydration in high heat and humidity, and have an action plan in place if heat illness suspected, says Dr. Jim MacDonald, a pediatric sports medicine physician at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Exertional Heat Stroke: A Must-See Video

Since our launch in August 2000, MomsTEAM has been educating parents, coaches, athletic trainers and players on the dangers of heat illness, how to prevent exertional heat stroke - particularly among football players who are most at risk during pre-season practice - and how heat stroke should be treated if and when it occurs.  

MomsTEAM and the Korey Stringer Institute have been educating parents, coaches, athletic trainers, and athletes for years on the dangers of exertional heat stroke and how to prevent the sudden death of athletes. Here is a great new video from KSI that every parent of an athlete, regardless of sport, should watch.

Fox 40's Heat Alert Mouth Guard: A Game Changer Like Their Whistle?

The new Heat Alert mouth guard changes colors if an athlete’s core temperature goes over 102 degrees F, in effect a heat stroke early warning system. Whether it will be a game changer like Fox 40's pea-less whistle remains to be seen. 

Pre-Season Heat Safety Guidelines for High School Sports: States Have Been Slow To Act

Six years after a joint task force of medical groups issued pre-season heat acclimatization guidelines, only 13 state high school athletic associations have moved to adopt them.

Georgia Heat Acclimatization Guidelines

In 2012 Georgia became the sixth state to adopt heat-acclimatization guidelines to reduce the risk of exertional heat stroke among high school athletes.  In adopting  key recommendations from a 2009 statement from the National Athletic Trainers Association, the Georgia High School Association joins Connecticut, New Jersey, Texas and North Carolina.  Since then 10 other states have adopted the full set of heat recommendations.

Prevent Heat Illness By Empowering Parents, Expert Says

With fall sports beginning around the country, it is critically important for parents to be pro-active when it comes to preventing heat illness.  "Parents need to be empowered to question coaches," says Dr. Susan Yeargin.  "Coaches are often viewed as 'knowing best.' But that isn't always the case."

Pre-Season Heat-Acclimatization Guidelines

In 2009, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) issued a set of high school-specific pre-season heat- acclimatization guidelines as part of its ongoing effort to reduce the number of heat-related athletic injuries in secondary schools. The guidelines have been adopted in seventeen states and are being considered by many others.

Blowing Cool, Dry Air Through Football Shoulder Pads Reduces Heat Illness Risk

Blowing cool, dry air flowing under and through football shoulder pads reduces core
body temperature and heart rate dramatically, thereby reducing the likelihood of heat illness,
says a 2008 study.

Too Hot to Play Sports? Depends on Heat Index

When the heat index is above 95 degrees, athletes, especially children, are at increased risk of heat-related illness. Cancelling or modifying practices and games, or taking others to reduce the risk of heat illness, should be taken.
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