OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL

CONCERNS

Lightning

Pollution

Altitude

Jet Lag

Facts about Lightning

100 deaths and 400-500 injuries per year

Lightning strikes that are seen are not coming down! They are the return strokes going back up after a hit

Lightning can occur without thunder Thunder cannot occur without lightning

NATA Position Statement

Deaths can be avoided with proper planning

Chain of Command Who has the authority to suspend games?

Weather Watcher Person in charge of monitoring weather

information and local changes Tools to watch weather

Radio, TV, internet, apps. National weather service

NATA Position Statement

Safe Structures Primary choice

Fully enclosed & grounded building Secondary choice

fully enclosed vehicle (windows up) Unsafe

Picnic shelters, indoor swimming pools, showers in locker rooms, dugouts

NATA Position Statement

No choice? Find lowest point Crouch feet together, head between knees,

hands over ears Don’t lay flat Don’t stand next to tall structure

NATA Position Statement

Decision making 30-30 rule

When to leave Flash-to-bang-ratio: the amount of seconds

between seeing lightning and hearing thunder Divide # by 5= distance in miles Minimum safety ratio is 30 seconds Lightning can strike from as far as 6-9 miles away

NATA Position Statement

Decision making 30-30 rule

When to return 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning and/or

bang of thunder Storms travel about 25 mph so 30 minutes would

move the storm 10-12 miles away

Why Lightning Injures and Kills

Contact injury Touch object that is struck

Side flash Lightning jumps from structure to person

Step voltage Voltage radiates away from strike and humans

are good conductors of electicity

Why Lightning Injures and Kills

Burn High temperature

Electromechanical forces Strong muscular contractions caused from

electrical current Blunt injury

Violent muscle contractions throw person several yards

Injuries from Lightning Strikes

Fractures Internal organ damage Brain lesions Ruptured tympanic membranes Ocular problems Seizures Subdural and epidural hematomas

What can you do if lightning strikes?

Survey the scene and triage Carefully more victims Treat any suspected injuries Always suspect spinal injury unless ruled

out

Soccer players struck by lightning

Man struck by lightning

Air Pollution

Major problem in urban areas Two types:

Photochemical haze Nitrogen dioxide and stagnant air acted on by

sunlight to produce ozone Smog

Combination of carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide

Photochemical Haze

Smog

Ozone

3 atom oxygen molecule Reaction of oxygen, nitrogen oxides,

hydrocarbons, and sunlight Automobile and factory emissions

interferes with functioning High levels will have negative effect on

outdoor activities

Ozone

s/s Shortness of breath Coughing Chest tightness Pain with deep breathing Nausea Eye irritation Fatigue Lung irritationAsthmatics are at a greater risk of becoming affected

Carbon Monoxides

Most frequent air pollutant (smoking) Colorless, odorless gas Reduces ability to transport oxygen and

restricts release of oxygen to the tissues Interferes with:

Performance Attention related activities Attentiveness Decision making Core temperature regulation

Air Pollution

Prevention Stop or decrease activity Perform when commuter traffic is less Running should be avoided in areas of high

traffic due to auto emissions and car carbon monoxide

Altitude

↑ Altitude=↓Oxygen intake=↓Performance

Oxygen delivery and removal is tougher

Body compensates through tachycardia (increase heart) rate and hyperventilation

Altitude Illness

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) s/s

Headache Dizziness Fatigue Nausea Vomiting Sleep disturbance Difficulty breathing Suppressed appetite Decreased urine output Tachycardia

Altitude Illness

Management Acclimatization Physical conditioning Diet high carb Diet low in salt

Treatment Move athlete to lower altitude Provide oxygen Rest Eat frequent small meals

Altitude Illness

High-Altitude Cerebral Edema End stage of AMS, due to rapid ascent to

significant altitude (>10,000 ft) s/s

Several days after AMS onset Increased brain call volume Uncoordinated Impaired judgment Inability to make decisions Irrational behavior Altered consciousness

Coma death

Altitude Illness

Management Immediate descent high-flow Oxygen

Altitude Illness

Acclimatization Dependent on altitude

Longer time for higher altitude 10-20 days for maximal performance Lost after 2-3 weeks of leaving

Natives Larger chest capacity More capillaries Higher red blood cell level

Circadian Dysrhythmia (Jet Lag)

Desynchronization of biological clock

Jet lag refers to the physical and mental effects caused by traveling rapidly across time zones

Jet Lag

s/s Fatigue Headaches Digestive problems Changes in blood pressure Changes in heart rate negatively impact performance Predispose athlete to injury Short term anorexia Insomnia Younger individuals adjust more rapidly

Jet Lag

Time Zones North-south travel has no impact unless time

zones are crossed

Jet Lag

Prevention Depart well rested Pre-adjust

Eat according to time changes Avoid dehydration Training schedules

Use caffeine when traveling west Adopt local time on arrival