Heat Safety

Exertional Sickling: Serious But Survivable If Prompt Action Taken

Yvette L. Coursey, DPA, talks about how sickle cell trait, ordinarily a relatively benign condition, can cause youth engaged in sustained, intense exercise to suffer a potentially life-threatening condition called exertional sickling. Coursey emphasizes that the condition is survivable if treated promptly.

Dehydration in Sports: A Year-Round Concern

Whether your tween or teen is at the rink, on the court, in the pool, or on the slopes, the need to keep them well-hydrated so they can perform at their best is the same in winter as on the hottest days of summer.

Dehydration Constant Concern Regardless of Weather

Contrary to conventional wisdom, a young athlete's need to stay hydrated is a constant regardless of the sports season, Kids can become dehydrated whatever and whenever they play sports, regardless of the temperature or relative humidity.

High School Athletes, Males Most Likely Heat Illness Victims Says CDC

High school athletes, especially males, are at the highest risk of suffering exertional heat illness requiring treatment in U.S. hospital emergency rooms, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Risk Factors for Exertional Heat Illness in Children and Teens

Most healthy children and adolescents can safely participate in outdoor sports and other physical activities in a wide range of challenging warm to hot weather, but there are numerous factors that put them at increased risk of exertional heat illness.

Heat Illness Terms Defined

Sports medicine practitioners throw around a lot of different terms when it comes to heat illness. Here are the terms as defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics in its newly revised Policy Statement on Climactic Heat Stress and Exercising Children and Adolescents.

Heat Illness Very Preventable Injury Says AAP

Exertional heat illness among youth athletes is preventable if coaches, parents and other adults take appropriate precautions, says the American Academy of Pediatrics in a new report.

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."

Ten Ways To Prevent Heat Illness

So far in the summer of 2011, at least five athletes and one coach have died of heat stroke. Heat illness, however, is one of the most preventable youth sports injuries. Here are ten ways parents can help keep their child safe in the heat.