Weather Concerns

Athletes experience painful muscle spasms that typically occur in calf and abdomen, but can occur in any muscle. Heat cramps are caused by excessive loss of water and electrolytes, especially sodium.

Treatment includes:

• Remove the athlete from play 
• Administer and replace fluids and electrolytes
• Monitor for changes

A moderate form of heat illness caused by heat stress and strenuous physical activity. Athletes become dehydrated to point that they cannot sustain adequate cardiac output. Symptoms include pale skin, profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, loss of coordination.

Treatment includes:

• Remove the athlete from play for the entire day
• Administer and replace fluids and electrolytes
• Monitor for changes
• Depending on the severity, a physician may be asked to clear the athlete for play.

A life-threatening emergency and most severe form of heat illness. It can occur suddenly with an individual collapsing and experiencing CNS abnormalities (altered consciousness, seizures, confusion, emotional instability, irrational behavior) as well as tissue damage resulting from elevated body temp. Symptoms include hot skin, sweating less than with heat exhaustion, shallow fast breathing, rapid strong pulse, nausea vomiting or diarrhea, headache, dizziness, weakness, decreased bp, dehydration.

Treatments include:

• Immediately stop activity
• Cool the athlete rapidly with cold or ice water
• Call EMS
• The athlete must be cleared by a physician to return to play

A condition caused by prolonged and constant exposure to cold. Symptoms include skin redness, swelling, tingling, and pain in the toes/fingers.

Treatment includes:

• Move the athlete into a warm environment
• Gradually warm the affected area
• The athlete may not return to play on the same day

A condition in which the body’s core temperature drops to a level that impairs function. Symptoms include shivering, numbness, and a glassy stare.

Treatment includes:

• Bring athlete into a warm environment
• Increase athlete's core temperature by administering warm liquids
• The athlete must be cleared by a physician to return to play