Environmental Environmental IllnessesIllnesses

Sports Medicine ISports Medicine I

Fluid ReplacementFluid Replacement

Dehydration is Dehydration is primary cause of primary cause of heat illnessheat illness

Athletes can loose Athletes can loose 5-10 pounds during 5-10 pounds during one practice one practice sessionsession

If you wait to drink If you wait to drink when you are when you are thirsty, you are thirsty, you are already dehydratedalready dehydrated

Heat CrampsHeat Cramps

Least serious of Least serious of heat illnessesheat illnesses

First sign that body First sign that body is having difficultyis having difficulty

Most common in Most common in lower extremities lower extremities and abdominal and abdominal cavitycavity

Heat CrampsHeat Cramps

Signs and Signs and SymptomsSymptoms– Profuse sweatingProfuse sweating– Involuntary Involuntary

cramping of the cramping of the musclesmuscles

First Aid First Aid ProceduresProcedures– Move to cooler Move to cooler

locationlocation– Provide fluidsProvide fluids– Athlete must Athlete must

stretch and apply stretch and apply iceice

– Monitor signs of Monitor signs of other illnessesother illnesses

Heat ExhaustionHeat Exhaustion

More serious More serious conditioncondition

More difficult to More difficult to recognizerecognize

Usually not life-Usually not life-threateningthreatening

Not treated Not treated properly. It can properly. It can become a medical become a medical emergencyemergency

Heat ExhaustionHeat Exhaustion Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms

– Cool, moist, pale skinCool, moist, pale skin– Headache, dizzinessHeadache, dizziness– Fast, shallow Fast, shallow

breathingbreathing– Weak, but rapid pulseWeak, but rapid pulse– Dilate pupilsDilate pupils– Nausea/vomitingNausea/vomiting– CrampsCramps– WeaknessWeakness– Fainting my occurFainting my occur

First Aid First Aid ProceduresProcedures– Remove from direct Remove from direct

sunlightsunlight– Remove excessive Remove excessive

clothingclothing– Reduce body tempReduce body temp– Cool the bodyCool the body– Drink fluidsDrink fluids– Gradually progress Gradually progress

to participationto participation

Heat StrokeHeat Stroke Most seriousMost serious Life-threatening and a Life-threatening and a

medical emergency!!medical emergency!! Body temp of 104 or Body temp of 104 or

higherhigher Thermoregulatory Thermoregulatory

system failssystem fails Blood diverted to Blood diverted to

surface of skinsurface of skin Internal organs shut Internal organs shut

downdown Result in coma or deathResult in coma or death

Heat StrokeHeat Stroke

Signs and SymptomsSigns and Symptoms– Mentally confusedMentally confused– Elevated temperatureElevated temperature– Headache/dizzinessHeadache/dizziness– Absence of sweatingAbsence of sweating– Strong, rapid pulseStrong, rapid pulse– Falling BPFalling BP– Diarrhea/vomitingDiarrhea/vomiting– May faintMay faint

First Aid First Aid ProceduresProcedures– Activate EMSActivate EMS– Remove excessive Remove excessive

clothingclothing– Cool athlete quicklyCool athlete quickly– If conscious, give If conscious, give

fluidsfluids– MUST be cleared by MUST be cleared by

MD to return to MD to return to competitioncompetition