Protecting Young Athletes from Heat Stroke

Young athletes participating in outdoor sports are at risk for heat illness. The medical team at Arkansas Children's prepares for more athletes to visit our Emergency Department needing treatment for heat exhaustion and even heat stroke every fall.

Unfortunately, nice breezy summer days mean young athletes may not have had a chance to acclimate to the intense Arkansas heat – an important part of preventing heat illness.

Parents, coaches and their own teammates need to be on the lookout for signs of heat illness.

During a particularly brutal summers, several high school football players end up in our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit because of heat illness. Catching these kids and getting them treatment early can save their lives.

What does heat illness look like?
Kids may have some combination of the following symptoms:

• Noticeable, increased thirst
• Muscle cramps
• Weakness
• Decreased performance
• Nausea
• Headache
• Fatigue, light-headedness or dizziness and difficulty paying attention.

What can I do to prevent heat illness?

Jonathan Elrod, a member of the Sports Medicine team at Arkansas Children's, said the first step is acclimatization.
"We want the kids to carefully begin spending progressively longer times exercising outdoors as they prepare for summer practices," Elrod said. "This is very important for their health."

A few basic good health principles can also help:

• Getting a good night's rest
• Eating a well-balanced diet of fruits and vegetables
• Drinking plenty of water and sports drinks

Elrod says athletes should avoid anything loaded with sugar or caffeine and says absolutely no energy drinks should be consumed.

What should my athlete drink?

We know that hydration is key to preventing heat illness, but in kids and teens, compliance is essential. That means they should drink whatever healthy liquids they will drink. Water is better for overall hydration, but it's not helpful if kids won't drink it. Parents can offer flavored sports drinks, like Gatorade, if needed. 

What else do I need to know?

Elrod also reminds us that what athletes wear when they practice is also important to consider. Choose as few layers as possible of lightweight, moisture-wicking materials. It may also be helpful to change into dry clothes often.

Cooling bandanas or towels are only helpful if they stay exposed to the wind. If they become wet beneath shoulder pads and helmets, they're only going to trap heat in and make the situation worse. These items may be a good idea after heat exposure, but Elrod advises against them during practice.