Environmental%20Considerations

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Environmental Considerations
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Environmental Considerations

• Environmental stress can adversely affect an
  athletes performance and in some cases pose a
  serious health threat
• We will look at
• Hyperthermia - heat stress
• Hypothermia - cold stress
• Altitude
• Lightning

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Hyperthermia

• Hyperthermia elevated body temperature
• 3 main heat related illnesses
• Heat cramps
• Heat exhaustion
• Heat stroke

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Hyperthermia

• Heat Cramps painful muscle spasms
• Occur because of 3 factors
• Dehydration
• Fatigue
• Electrolyte imbalance - water to Na, K, Mg, Cl-,
  Ca levels are off
• Signs painful muscle twitching and spasm
• Treatment hydration, mild stretching, massage,
  ice

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Hyperthermia

• Heat exhaustion elevated body temperature
• Caused by inadequate replacement of fluids lost
  through sweating
• Signs elevated temp (101 - 103F), dizziness,
  headache, fatigue, nausea, possible vomiting
• Treatment get to cool environment, sip water,
  cool body by placing ice towels around neck,
  armpits, and groin, monitor vitals and symptoms -
  no response seek medical attention

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Hyperthermia

• Heat Stroke medical emergency
• Caused by malfunction of the thermoregulatory
  mechanism of the body
• Signs sudden collapse, loss of consciousness
  (LOC), elevated body temp (104F or higher),
  shallow breathing, rapid pulse
• Treatment call 9-1-1, heroic effort to reduce
  body temp (have a chance if body temp reduced in
  1st 45 min), body temp reaches 106F or higher,
  the higher the mortality rate)

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Tackling the Heat

• Dehydration/heat illness is completely
  preventable
• Key risk factors for heat problems
• Days 1-2 of conditioning
• Temperatures
• Caution 80F or above with humidity 90 or above
• Danger 90F or above with any humidity
• Un-acclimated athletes
• Already dehydrated - thirst is not an indicator
  of dehydration. If you become thirsty it is too
  late
• Out of shape
• Overweight
• Supplements - if it revs you up, it heats you up

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Tackling the Heat

• How do I avoid problems?
• Keep them cool - the cooler they stay, the better
  they play- take breaks, provide shade, have
  practice at a cooler time
• Hydration is the key
• 6 step plan for hydration
• Bring it to the game Hydrate before, during and
  after. Have athletes show you they brought it to
  practice/game or make it available
• Get ready to play have athletes drink fluids 2-3
  hrs before practice or competition

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Tackling the Heat

• Take a break schedule frequent water breaks,
  athletes should drink something every 15-20 min
  to help maintain fluid levels
• Put it back weigh athletes before and after
  workouts and have them drink at least 20 oz. per
  pound of weight loss.
• - if athletes are hydrated, weight loss is
  minimal
• Speak up encourage athletes to speak up if they
  arent feeling well or are experiencing signs of
  hydration
• Monitor one way to watch is monitor urine
• check color and volume
• pale and plentiful good hydration
• darker yellow and minimal low on fluids

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Tackling the Heat

• What do I drink?
• Water is not enough
• Recommendation is 50 water and 50 sport drink
  before, during and after an activity that lasts
  45 min or longer
• Sports drinks provide electrolytes and taste good
  so athlete may drink more

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Tackling the Heat

• What else can I do?
• Focus on high risk athletes, spot subtle signs of
  problems
• Uniform concerns - limit use of full padding in
  football when there is high humidity and high
  temps
• Counter the culture - dont push the limits, you
  will lose, dont ignore warning signs - Get them
  off the field and stop them before they get worse
• Train them, dont strain them - start slow and
  build slow
• Off the field behavior - sickness, poor nutrition
  can lead to problems

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Hypothermia

• Hypothermia decreased body temperature
• Caused by low temperatures accentuated by wind,
  dampness or wetness and/or a combo of these
• Small drops in core temp can lead to problems
  with coordination
• Shivering ceases below 90F and death is imminent
  if drops to below 85

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Hypothermia

• Key is prevention
• Clothing dress in layers of clothing that are
  lightweight, but allow free passage of sweat and
  bodyheat - remove layers that become damp or wet
• Warm-up properly
• Hydrate dehydration in cold weather reduces
  blood volume, less fluid to warm tissue

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Altitude

• What happens at altitude?
• For every thousand feet above sea level, there is
  a 1 decrease in oxygen uptake
• Often, the athletes body will compensate for the
  decrease in oxygen uptake with tachycardia
  (abnormal heart rate above 100 BPM)
• Body needs to respond hyperventilation
• All leads to decrease in performance

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Altitude

• What happens?
• Because of the oxygen deficiency, red blood cells
  become less saturated and deprive the body of
  oxygen
• What to do?
• Adaptation arrive early
• Minimum 3-4 days, probably takes 3-4 wks for body
  to adjust

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Altitude

• Altitude sickness
• Go from low to moderate altitude
• Headache, nausea, vomiting, sleep disturbance
  usually lasts 3 days
• Due to less oxygen to brain
• Get athlete back to his/her normal altitude

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Lightning

• Research indicates that lightning is the 2 cause
  of death by weather about 110 deaths per year
  (until recent hurricanes)
• Should have a plan in place for such weather

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• Flash-to-bang method
• An estimation of how far away lightning is
• Count the seconds between the lightning flash and
  the bang of thunder
• Every 5 sec. between the flash and the bang 1
  mile
• NCAA recommends that at 30 sec. the athlete needs
  to evacuated
• When the count is 15, seek immediate shelter
• Recommended that 30 minutes pass after the last
  sound of thunder is heard or lightning strike is
  seen before resuming play