Sunday, August 14, 2011
DALLAS, August 14, 2011 – With summer temperatures soaring, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) has prepared a list of important tips that public safety employees, including members of law enforcement, fire and rescue and emergency medical services can follow on the job to reduce the risk of exertional heat illness that may occur from activity in the heat of summer. Officers and firefighters are at the greatest risk of heat illness when participating in repetitive outdoor training exercises and repetitive calls for service. Required protective equipment also increases the risk of heat illness. This information is especially timely in August when temperatures are at their highest.
Athletic trainers can be found in a variety of work settings including public safety, physician offices and clinics, performing arts, industrial, athletics and military. The Public Safety Athletic Trainers’ Society (PSATS) is dedicated to the health, fitness and safety of local, state and federal public safety employees. In this setting, athletic trainers can improve the health and welfare of academy recruits, staff and department classes.
“Athletic trainers provide injury evaluations, physician referral, injury rehabilitation and re-conditioning, follow-up and injury prevention education for agency employees and recruits in the public safety setting,” said PSATS director Nancy Burke, MS, AT, athletic trainer with the Fairfax County Police Department in Fairfax, Va. “Heat illness is a serious condition that can be prevented and successfully treated if symptoms are properly recognized in a timely manner.”
Watching for certain factors is key to safety in hot weather
To guard against heat illnesses, PSATS and NATA recommend following these easy steps:
Following is an overview of the heat-related ailments to be aware of when working or exercising in the heat:
It’s very important that treatment for exertional heat stroke be both aggressive and immediate, provided adequate medical personnel are on site. Key steps to take when exertional heat stroke is identified include immediate whole-body cooling, preferably through cold-water immersion, followed immediately by medical treatment in an emergency room or trauma center.
Heat exhaustion patients should immediately be transported to a cool, shaded environment with feet elevated, and fluids should be replaced. If their condition worsens or does not improve within minutes, they should be transported to the emergency room for evaluation and treatment. Those suffering from heat exhaustion should avoid intense activity in the heat until at least the next day. NATA also recommends a trip to the doctor to rule out any underlying conditions that predispose them to heat exhaustion.
People suffering from heat cramps should cease activity, consume high sodium food and stretch the affected muscle. They should also be assessed by an athletic trainer to determine if they can return to activity. If cramping progresses in severity or number of muscle groups, patients should be transported to the emergency room for more advanced treatment.
Hyponatremia cases that involve mental confusion and intense headache should be seen by a physician so proper treatment can be administered. A physician should also be consulted prior to resuming outdoor activity in the heat. Always listen to your body. If you are participating in any fitness routines, required training and operations or general activity in the heat, and you start to feel ill or strange, you should stop immediately and seek medical attention, as needed.
National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – Health Care for Life & Sport
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and sport-related illnesses. They prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity, and provide immediate care for acute injuries. Athletic trainers offer a continuum of care that is unparalleled in health care. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports 34,000 members of the athletic training profession.
Athletic trainers can be found in a variety of work settings including public safety, physician offices and clinics, performing arts, industrial, athletics and military. The Public Safety Athletic Trainers’ Society (PSATS) is dedicated to the health, fitness and safety of local, state and federal public safety employees. In this setting, athletic trainers can improve the health and welfare of academy recruits, staff and department classes.
“Athletic trainers provide injury evaluations, physician referral, injury rehabilitation and re-conditioning, follow-up and injury prevention education for agency employees and recruits in the public safety setting,” said PSATS director Nancy Burke, MS, AT, athletic trainer with the Fairfax County Police Department in Fairfax, Va. “Heat illness is a serious condition that can be prevented and successfully treated if symptoms are properly recognized in a timely manner.”
Watching for certain factors is key to safety in hot weather
To guard against heat illnesses, PSATS and NATA recommend following these easy steps:
- Gradually acclimate by increasing activity in terms of intensity and duration in the heat. This prepares your body for more intense, longer duration exercise in warm conditions, and helps prevent injury and heat illness.
- Intersperse periods of rest during activity and assure adequate rest between extreme heat exposures. For training or operational events, plan on rotating officers and firefighters to allow for recovery. Rest breaks are an important defense against heat illness, and proper sleeping habits decrease your risk as well.
- Begin outdoor activities only after you’re properly hydrated. Drink water or sports drinks throughout physical activity in the heat.
- A darker urine color is a quick indicator of dehydration. Your urine should look more like lemonade than apple juice.
- Exercise during cooler portions of the day (early morning or late evening), if possible.
- Do not participate in intense training or operational activities if you show signs of an existing illness (i.e. fever, diarrhea, extreme fatigue, etc.). These can decrease your body’s tolerance for heat and increase your risk of a heat illness. Back off on training or operational intensity or duration if not feeling well (i.e. alternate training in a cool environment and outside, cut the session short, etc.)
- Employing an athletic trainer ensures proper medical supervision, recognition and treatment of possible injuries and heat illness.
Following is an overview of the heat-related ailments to be aware of when working or exercising in the heat:
- Exertional Heat stroke is an extremely serious illness that can result in death unless quickly recognized and properly treated. Signs and symptoms include an increase in core body temperature (usually above 104°F/40°C); central nervous system dysfunction, such as altered consciousness, seizures, confusion, emotional instability, irrational behavior or decreased mental acuity; nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; headache, dizziness, or weakness; increased heart rate; decreased blood pressure or fast breathing; dehydration; and combativeness.
It’s very important that treatment for exertional heat stroke be both aggressive and immediate, provided adequate medical personnel are on site. Key steps to take when exertional heat stroke is identified include immediate whole-body cooling, preferably through cold-water immersion, followed immediately by medical treatment in an emergency room or trauma center.
- Heat exhaustion is a moderately serious illness resulting from fluid loss or sodium loss in the heat. Signs and symptoms include loss of coordination; dizziness or fainting; profuse sweating or pale skin; headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; stomach/intestinal cramps or persistent muscle cramps.
Heat exhaustion patients should immediately be transported to a cool, shaded environment with feet elevated, and fluids should be replaced. If their condition worsens or does not improve within minutes, they should be transported to the emergency room for evaluation and treatment. Those suffering from heat exhaustion should avoid intense activity in the heat until at least the next day. NATA also recommends a trip to the doctor to rule out any underlying conditions that predispose them to heat exhaustion.
- Heat cramps are often present in those who perform strenuous activity in the heat. Signs and symptoms include intense pain (not associated with pulling or straining a muscle) and persistent muscle contractions that continue during and after exercise.
People suffering from heat cramps should cease activity, consume high sodium food and stretch the affected muscle. They should also be assessed by an athletic trainer to determine if they can return to activity. If cramping progresses in severity or number of muscle groups, patients should be transported to the emergency room for more advanced treatment.
- Hyponatremia is a potentially fatal illness that occurs when a person’s blood sodium levels decrease, either due to over-hydration or inadequate sodium intake, or both. Medical complications can result in cerebral and/or pulmonary edema. Signs and symptoms of this illness include excessive fluid consumption before, during and after exercising (weight gain during activity); increasing headache; nausea and vomiting (often repetitive); and swelling of extremities (hands and feet).
Hyponatremia cases that involve mental confusion and intense headache should be seen by a physician so proper treatment can be administered. A physician should also be consulted prior to resuming outdoor activity in the heat. Always listen to your body. If you are participating in any fitness routines, required training and operations or general activity in the heat, and you start to feel ill or strange, you should stop immediately and seek medical attention, as needed.
National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) – Health Care for Life & Sport
Athletic trainers are health care professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and sport-related illnesses. They prevent and treat chronic musculoskeletal injuries from sports, physical and occupational activity, and provide immediate care for acute injuries. Athletic trainers offer a continuum of care that is unparalleled in health care. The National Athletic Trainers' Association represents and supports 34,000 members of the athletic training profession.