Acclimatization Injury

Athletes could suffer from a hear or cold related illness

Overweight or poorly conditioned athlete l could suffer a heat illness

Thin & highly condition athlete (less fat for insulation) may
be prone to cold illness.

Metabolism
(Energy)

-Tissue cells in the body work &use energy , heat is produced

Convection
(Air)

-Warm air ( increase body temperature)

-Loss or gain of heat resulting from the circulation of air (wind)

-Cool air ( increase body temperature)

Conduction
(Object)

-Body heat can be lost or gained if the body comes in contact with a warmer or colder object

-Cold shower or cold drink

-Warm jacuzzi

Radiation
(Sun)

-Heat loss or gained through contact with infrared waves

-Most common radiation heat is from the sun

Evaporation (perspire)

evaporation of sweat off the skin is the main way in which the body cool itself

Hot, humid environment the body has difficulty cooling itself.
-Humidity – air is already saturated with water vapor
-Sweat doesn’t evaporate as easily
-Body sweat less effective cooling agent, & the body retains extra heat

Combination of increased metabolism & decreased evaporation of sweat – athletes more prone to heat illness in hot, humid environment

Heat Exhaustion

This is a shock-like condition.

.Causes
-Dehydration occurs when the body’s water & electrolyte supplies are depleted through sweating

The athlete suffered no injury but begins to develop shock-like symptoms

Symptoms
-Headache (a continuous pain in the head).
-Nausea (feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit).
-Dizziness (sensation of spinning around & losing one’s balance).
-Chills (unpleasant feeling of coldness).
-Fatigue (extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness).
-Extreme thirst

Signs
-Pale, cool, & clammy (sticky or slimy) skin
-Rapid, weak pulse loss of coordination
Dilated pupils
-Profuse sweating (key sign)

Playing Status
-Athlete cannot return to activity until he/she regains the weight lost through sweat.
-Athlete absolutely must not return to activity on the same day.
-Do not allow athlete to return to activity until released by a physician

First Aid
-Have rest in a cool, shaded area.
-Give cool water to drink (if he/she conscious).
-Apply ice to the neck, back, or stomach to help cool the body.
-Monitor ABCs & provide rescue breathing or CPR if necessary.
-Treat for shock if necessary.
-Send for emergency medical assistance if the athlete does not recover or if his/her condition worsens

Heatstroke

This is a life-threatening condition in which the body stops sweating & the body temperature rises dangerously.

Cause
Dehydration causes a malfunction in the body’s temperature control center in the brain.
^

The athlete may dazedly stagger (walk or move unsteadily) off the field or collapse.

Signs
-Hot, dry, & flushed or red skin (key sign)
-Very high body temperature (above 39°C)
-Lack of sweat
-Rapid pulse
-Rapid breathing
-Constricted pupils

Symptoms
-Feeling of being on fire (extremely hot)
-Nausea
-Confusion
-Irritability (annoyed or angered)
-fatigue

First Aid
-Send for emergency medical assistance.
-Have rest in a cool, shaded area.
-Remove excess clothing & equipment.
-Cool the athlete’s body with cool, wet towels or by pouring cool water over him/her.
-Apply ice pack on armpits, neck, back, stomach, & between the legs.
-Monitor ABCs & provide rescue breathing or CPR if necessary.
-Treat for shock (do not cover with blankets)
-Have a conscious athlete drink cool water.
-Place an unconscious athlete on his/her side to allow fluids & vomit to drain from the mouth

Playing Status
The athlete cannot return to activity until he/she is released by a physician.

Heat Cramps

This condition involves sudden involuntary muscle spasms

.Causes
-Dehydration
-Electrolyte loss
-Poor or decreased blood flow to the muscles

The athlete complains of a muscle spasm that is not caused by a specific injury.
Cramps usually occur in the quadriceps, hamstrings, or calves

Symptoms
-Pain caused by muscle spasm.
-Fatigue.

Signs
-Severe muscle spasms.

First Aid
Slowly stretch the affected muscle without bounding.
Have the athlete drink cool water.
If spasms do not improve within 5 minutes, look for another possible injury.
Send the athlete to a physician.

Playing Status
The athlete can return to activity once the spasms stop & he/she can run, jump, & cut without limping or pain.

Temperature
27° - 32°C
Humidity
< 70%

Precautions
Monitor athletes prone to heat illness
27° - 32°C
32° - 38°C
> 70%
< 70%
10-minute rest every hour.
change clothes frequently
32° - 38°C
> 70%
short practices inth evenings or early mornings.
Only require t-shirts & shorts
Warm-weather precautions.

Acclimatize athletes to exercising in high heat & humidity

Approximately 7 to 10 days to acclimatize

Hold short practices at low to moderate activity levels & give athletes water breaks every 20 minutes

Switch to light clothing & less equipment

Stay cool with shorts, white t-shirts, & less equipment.
Avoid vinyl (synthetic resin) sweat-suit at any time
Vinyl prevents evaporation of sweat & does not allow the body to cool itself
This practice is especially popular with wrestlers & boxers

Identify & monitor athletes who are prone to heat illness
Athlete who prone to heat illness:
Overweight
Heavily muscled
Out of shape
Athletes who have suffered from a previous heat illness
These athletes should be closely monitored & given water breaks every 15 to 20 minutes

Make sure athletes replace body fluids (water) lost through sweat
Athletes lose a great deal of water through sweat.
If fluid is not replaced, the body will have less water to cool itself with (dehydration).
They won’t actually feel thirsty until they’ve lost 3-4% of their body weight in sweat (water)

Replenish electrolytes lost through sweat
Electrolytes such as sodium (salt) & potassium are
also lost through sweat

These are used in muscle contraction & other body
function

They must be replaced

The best way for athletes to replace these nutrients:

Eating normal diet that contains fresh fruits & vegetables

Banana are a good source of potassium

Lightly salting the food

Make sure athletes replace body
fluids (water) lost through sweat
Encourage athletes to do the following:

-Drink 1 liter of water each day.

-Drink 8 ounces (or I cup) of water every 15 minutes during practice
or competition

-Drink ½ to 1 cup of water 15 minutes before practice or competition

Also encourage athletes to weigh themselves before & after
practice or competition

They should drink 2 cups of water for every pound of water
they’ve lose through sweat

Cool water is the best fluid to drink (stomach absorbs it
faster)

When a person is exposed to cold weather (winters)

Body temperature starts to drop below normal.

Counteract, body tries to gain or conserve heat by shivering
involves muscles contracting rapidly to produce heat.

Reduction of blood flow to the skin & extremities
conserves the heat of the brain, heart, & lungs

Make sure athletes wear appropriate protective
clothing

Should dress in layers, which allows sweat to evaporate &
protects against the cold.

Wool, gortex, & lycra are excellent materials to wear.

Also, be sure the head & neck are covered to prevent
excessive heat loss.

Wearing glove to allow the fingers to keep warm.

Frostbite

Superficial frostbite involves localized freezing of the skin &
the superficial tissues below it.

The nose, ears, toes, & fingers are especially prone to
superficial frostbite.

Deep frostbite begins superficially but advances to deep
tissues such as muscles & tendons

Cause

Exposure of body parts to cold, causing tissues to freeze &
blood vessels to constrict.

Symptoms

Painful, itchy, burning, or tingling areas that may become numb
as the frostbite worsens.

These symptoms may recur when the affected areas are
re-warmed.

Signs

First-degree frostbite – red or flushed skin that may turn white
or gray.

Second-degree frostbite – firm, white, & waxy skin, blisters &
purple tint to skin appear when the area is re-warmed.

Third-degree frostbite – blisters bluish skin. The area feels very
cold & stiff.

Playing Status

The athlete cannot return to activity until he/she is released
by a physician.

DO NOT…

Rub or massage frostbitten areas.

Apply ice to frostbitten areas.

Allow frostbitten tissue to re-freeze.

First Aid.

Move the athlete to a warm area.

Remove wet & cold clothing.

Treat for shock if necessary.

First- & second-degree frostbite

Re-warm frostbitten areas by soaking them in clean, warm water (38° -
40.5°C).

Send the athlete to physician.

Third-degree frostbite

Send for emergency medical assistance.

Monitor the ABCs & provide rescue breathing or CPR if necessary.

Cover the frostbitten areas with sterile gauze.

Hypothermia

In this condition, the body temperature drops below
normal.

The athlete did not suffer an injury but begins to act irrational
& disoriented.

Symptoms

When the body temperature drops below 95°:

Irritability

Confusion

Drowsiness (sleepy)

Lethargy (lack of energy)

Signs

From 95 to 98.6 degrees:

Loss of coordination

Loss of sensation

Uncontrollable shivering

From 90 to 95 degrees:

Shivering may stop

Pale & hard skin

Numbness

Slow, irregular pulse

Slowed breathing

First Aid

Mild to moderate hypothermia

Move the athlete to a warm area.

Send for emergency medical assistance.

Gently remove cold & wet clothing.

Wrap the athlete in blankets.

Give warm fluids, such as hot tea, to conscious athlete.

Severe hypothermia

Send for emergency medical assistance.

Cover the athlete with blankets.

Treat the athlete carefully.

Excessive movements may cause cold blood to re-circulate to the heart.

This can cause the heart to stop.

Monitor the ABCs & provide rescue breathing or CPR if necessary.

Treat for shock.

Cause

Prolonged exposure to wet, windy, & cold environment.

Extreme fatigue, such as that suffered after competition in
a marathon or triathlon.