Recognizing Environmental
Illness
Sports Med 2
Clean Air Please
• AQI: Air Quality Index
– an index for reporting daily air quality.
– It tells you how clean or polluted your air is,
– Reports health effects might be a concern for you.
See chart next screen
How does the AQI work?
 Think of the AQI as a
yardstick that runs from
0 to 500.
 The higher the AQI
value, the greater the
level of air pollution and
the greater the health
concern.
 For example, an AQI
value of 50 represents
good air quality with
little potential to affect
public health, while an
AQI value over 300
represents hazardous air
quality.
Standard
Exercising in Hot and Humid
environment can cause heat illness.
• Has caused a number of deaths over the years
• Must manage heat stress appropriately and
plan accordingly with coaching staffs
• It is preventable
• Athletes that train under these extreme
conditions are at risk
Read Preseason Heat Acclimatization
Guidelines for Secondary School Athletics
Answer the following questions on your paper
1. Why should we gradual increase heat exposure to
athletes?
2. Athletes who do not acclimatize properly could face what
kind of risk.
3. What must all athletes undergo before practicing according
to the law
4. Define heat acclimatization period and its goal
5. Explain practice, its duration and components
6. Explain walk through and its components
7. Explain recovery period and its components
8. Does the Meridian School District follow the 14-day heat
acclimatization period?
Heat rash (prickly heat)
MOI
- Result of continuously wet unevaporated sweat
S/S
– Benign condition associated
with red, raised rash, combined
with prickling with sweat
TX
– Continually toweling the body
will prevent
Heat Syncope (heat collapse)
MOI
– Associated with rapid fatigue and
overexposure, standing in heat
for long periods of time
S/S
– dizziness and fainting
TX
– Treat by placing athlete in cool
environment, consuming fluids
and laying down
Heat Cramps
MOI
– Painful muscle spasms (calf, abdominal)
due to excessive water loss and electrolyte
imbalance
– Occurs in individual in good shape that
overexert themselves
S/S
– Profuse sweating results in loss of water
and electrolytes (sodium, potassium,
magnesium, and calcium)
TX
– fluid ingestion, light stretching with ice
massage
– Return to play unlikely due to continued
cramping
Exertional Heat Exhaustion
MOI
– Result of inadequate fluid replacement
– Unable to sustain adequate cardiac output
S/S
– profuse sweating, pale skin, mildly elevated
temperature, dizziness, nausea, vomiting or
diarrhea, hyperventilation, persistent muscle
cramps, and loss of coordination
– May develop heat cramps or become
faint/dizzy
– Core temperature will be <104o
TX
– Immediate treatment includes fluid ingestion
(intravenous replacement, ultimately), place in
cool environment, remove excess clothing
– Must continue to monitor vital signs
Exertional Heatstroke
MOI
– Serious life-threatening condition, with unknown
specific cause
S/S
– sudden onset - sudden collapse, LOC, CNS dysfunction,
flushed hot skin, minimal sweating, shallow breathing,
strong rapid pulse, and core temperature of > 104o F
TX
– Drastic measures must be taken to cool athlete
•
•
•
•
•
Strip clothing
Sponge with cool water
Immerse carefully in water
Transport to hospital immediately
Cool first, transport second
– Death may result if not treated appropriately
Hypothermia
• Temperature in conjunction with wind
chill and dampness or wetness can
increase chances of hypothermia
• 65% of body heat is lost through
radiation (head and neck 50%)
• 20% through evaporation
• Death is imminent when temp falls
below
77-85oF.
Prevention of Hypothermia
• Apparel geared for weather to provide
semitropical microclimate for body and
prevent chilling
• Waterproof and windproof fabrics that allow
passage of heat and sweat and allow
movement
– Be aware of hydration levels as well to enhance
blood volume and heat maintenance
Frost nip
MOI
• Involves, ears, nose, chin, fingers, and toes
• Occurs with high wind and/or severe cold
S/S
• Skin appears firm with cold painless areas that
may peel and blister (24-72 hours)
TX
• Treat with firm pressure, blowing warm air or
hands in armpits (if fingers involved)
• Do not rub
Superficial Frostbite
MOI
• Superficial Frostbite involves only
skin and subcutaneous tissue
S/S
• Appears pale, hard, cold and
waxy
TX
• When re-warming the area will
feel numb, then sting and burn
• It may blister and be painful for
several weeks
Deep Frostbite
MOI
• Deep Frostbite indicates frozen skin
requiring hospitalization
S/S
Tissue will become blotchy red, swollen,
painful and may become gangrenous
TX
- Rapid re-warming is necessary (100110 F)
Acute Mountain Sickness
MOI
• 1 out of 3 will experience when making
the jump 7000-8000 feet.
• Caused by brain disruption associated
with sodium potassium imbalance
resulting in fluid retention and cellular
pressure changes
S/S
• Experience headache, nausea, vomiting,
sleep disturbance, and dyspnea
Altitude Pulmonary Edema
MOI
• Occurs at 9000-10,000 feet.
• Lungs accumulate fluid in
alveolar walls forming
pulmonary edema
S/S
• dyspnea, cough, headache,
weakness and occasionally
unconsciousness.
TX
• Treat by moving athlete to lower
altitude and providing oxygen