National Athletic Trainers’ Association
This site designed with the student-athlete in mind offers this important statistic: “Heat illness during practice or competition is the leading cause of death among U.S. high school athletes.” The site provides a variety of resources and links to articles, as well as materials for downloading. Topics include everything from “Beat the Heat: Keeping Student-Athletes Safe During Hot Summer Months” to “USA Football: Treating Emergency Heat Stroke.”
NATA Publishes New Exertional Heat Illnesses Position Statement
DALLAS, September 21, 2015 –The National Athletic Trainers’ Association published today its new position statement on exertional heat illnesses, an update to the original 2002 document. Created by the NATA Research & Education Foundation, the statement appears in the September issue of the Journal of Athletic Training, NATA’s scientific publication.
National Federation of State High School Associations
This site provides a list of risk factors for heat-related illness, as well as appropriate precautions. Some people face a greater risk of heat illness than others. For example, individuals with higher body fat percentages tend to become dehydrated and will overheat sooner than people with lower body fat percentages. Certain beverages, such as sugary drinks and sports drinks with caffeine or ephedrine, can also put people at greater risk of developing heat-related illnesses. The site also offers hydration guidelines.
U.S. Soccer Federation
This site specifically addresses children’s needs when it comes to exercising in the heat and staying hydrated. Children’s bodies respond to heat differently than adults’ bodies do. For example, children, in general, face a greater risk of heat-related illness. One reason, according to the site, is that children have a greater surface-area to body-mass ratio than adults do. Because of this, they tend to heat up faster. They are also not able to cool themselves off by sweating as well as adults can. The site also suggests ways to stay hydrated and advises children to get plenty of rest and take breaks from exercising.