With the northern hemisphere right in the middle of summer, heat injuries are on the increase. Although heat injuries are one of the most common forms of sports injuries to effect athletes, they are totally preventable.
Photos: John Segesta

Heat injuries occur when your body temperature rises above normal, or when your body is no longer able to regulate heat loss. Heat injuries are generally defined in three stages.

• Dehydration: This is the first stage of a heat injury. It's the mildest form of heat injury in which your body simply suffers from a lack of fluid.
• Heat Exhaustion: This is the next step beyond dehydration. If not treated immediately, serious injury and even death can result.
• Heat Stroke: This is the worst stage of a heat injury. Without proper medical attention a victim can die within minutes.

What Causes Heat Injuries?

There are a number of contributing factor that increase your chances of suffering a heat injury. Some of them are obvious, like high temperatures, others are less obvious. To follow is a list of factors to be aware of when training and playing in the heat:

• High temperatures;
• High humidity;
• Sun exposure;
• Excessive activity and exertion;
• Coffee and alcohol;
• Medications, especially diuretics; and
• Illness, especially vomiting and diarrhoea.

What are the Signs & Symptoms?

There are plenty of warning signs that will notify you, and other around you, that dehydration in setting in. The major problem with the following signs and symptoms is that most people tend to ignore them until it's too late. Catch these signs early enough and you won't have any problems, but ignore them, and you'll pay dearly.

The following signs and symptoms have been arranged so as to begin with the mildest warning signs first. By the time you start to suffer the signs from half way down the list, you're in big trouble. Remember; catch heat injuries early by looking out for the warning signs at the top of the list.

• Thirst
• Headache
• Nausea
• Cramps
• Dizziness
• Weak, no energy
• Confusion
• Hot, dry skin
• Weak, but rapid heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid breathing
• Unconscious

There is one other sign that is often over looked, and I feel it's one of the best indicators of dehydration. It's simple to check and very reliable as an indicator of possible heat injury.

The color of your urine will tell you a great deal about your body's level of hydration. When your body is depleted of fluid and dehydrated, your urine becomes very dark in color. In severe cases it can be a dark brown color. However, when your body is fully hydrated, your urine is a very light color, even clear.

My recommendation; drink fluid until you pee clear. This way you'll always know that your body is fully hydrated.

How do you Prevent Heat Injuries?

As with all sports injuries, it's far better to prevent them from occurring, than to treat them after it becomes too late. Prevention is even more important with heat injuries, because if you leave it too late, you may not get a second chance. To follow is a list of things you can do, to prevent heat injuries.

• Drink, and drink often. Before, during and after any training or competing. Don't wait to become thirsty. Remember drink fluid until you pee clear. Water is usually best, however, a good quality sports drink will also help to replace salts and minerals lost through sweat.
• In Australia, we have a saying called; "Slip, Slop, Slap!" Slip on a shirt, Slop on some sunscreen, and Slap on a hat. It's good advice whenever you go out in the sun.
• Wear loose fitting clothing that doesn't restrict your movement, and also allows for a good circulation of air.
• Avoid the extreme heat of the middle of the day. If possible schedule your training and playing times around the cooler parts of the day. Maybe even opt for a workout in the pool instead of the running track.
• Avoid sunburn at all costs. Sunburn will draw fluid from all areas of your body in an effort to replenish moisture in the skin. Remember, Slip, Slop, Slap.
• Schedule plenty of rest time in cool, shaded areas, as part of your training and playing.
• If at all possible, acclimatize to your current training and playing environment.
• Avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugary drinks like soda, cola and fizzy drinks.
• Lastly, use a bit common sense and don't ignore the warning signs.

How do you Treat Heat Injuries?

Generally speaking, the treatment for dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are very similar. However, whenever dealing with a victim of heat stroke, the patient must be referred to professional medical assistance. Remember, heat stroke is life threatening, don't take any chances, call for professional medical help.

To follow are a few guidelines for treating heat injuries.

• Have the patient lie or sit down in a cool, shaded area with good air circulation.
• Elevate the feet.
• Start to replace both fluid and salt loss. Give both water and sports drink if available.
• Loosen any clothing.
• Saturate clothing in cool water. If necessary remove outer clothing and wrap patient in a wet sheet or towel.
• Use fans or other cooling devices to help reduce body temperature.
• Immerse in cool (not cold) water. (Bath, swimming pool, river, lake, etc.)

Remember; if the patient is suffering from any of the serious warning signs like confusion, a weak, rapid heart rate or becomes unconscious, seek medical help immediately.

Article by Brad Walker. Brad is a leading stretching and sports injury consultant with nearly 20 years experience in the health and fitness industry. For more articles on stretching, flexibility and sports injury, please visit The Stretching Institute.