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Dangers of Adverse Environmental / Thermal

ConditionsPE 236

Amber Giacomazzi, MS, ATC

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• Environmental stress can adversely impact an athlete’s performance and pose serious health threats

• Areas of concern– ___________– ___________– _____________________

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Hyperthermia• Athletic trainers require knowledge and

information concerning __________, ________ and __________ to adequately make decisions regarding environmental dangers

• Has caused a number of deaths over the years

• Must manage heat stress appropriately• Hyperthermia = _______________

________________

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Heat Stress• Extreme caution should be used when

training in the heat (_______________ ________________)

• It is _____________• Athletes who train under these extreme

conditions are at risk• Physiologically the body will continue to

function if ______________ is ____________

• Body must _______________ to maintain ____________

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• Heat can be dissipated from the body through 4 mechanisms– Conduction (______________)– Convection (_____________________)– Radiation (___________________

_________)– Evaporation (_____________________

_______)• ___________________ is dissipated through

evaporation

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• Evaporative Heat Loss– Sweat glands allow water transport to surface– Evaporation of water takes heat with it– When __________ and ___________________

are ______ than _____________, loss of heat through evaporation is key

– Air must be relatively _________ for evaporation to occur • relative humidity of __________________• relative humidity of __________________

– Heat illness can still occur in _____________ if body is ____________________• Caused by ___________ and ________________

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Monitoring Heat Index• _____, _______,and ________ must be

monitored closely• _______________________(_____)

provides objective measure for determining precautions concerning participation in heat– WBGT incorporates different thermometer

readings• _______ (standard mercury temperature)• ________ (thermometer with wet gauze that is

swung around in air)

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– DBT and WBT can be measured with ___________ (combines both thermometers)• Wet bulb will be lower due to evaporation of

water– Ventilation is provided by whirling

thermometer (______________) – Newer models utilize digital sensors

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© 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Heat Illnesses• Heat Syncope (___________)

– Associated with __________ and ___________, _____________ for long periods of time

– Caused by _____________, or ________ _______ in extremities resulting in _______ and _________

– Treat by placing athlete in ________ __________, ___________ and ______ _______

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• Heat Cramps– Painful muscle spasms (___________)

due to _____________ and ________ __________

– Occurs in individuals in good shape who _____________________

– Treatment• Prevent by consuming extra fluids and

maintaining electrolyte balance• Treat with __________, ___________ with

_____ ___________• Return to play unlikely due to continued

cramping

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• Heat Exhaustion– Result of inadequate fluid replacement– Will exhibit signs of __________, _______,

mildly ____________, _________, ______________ and _____ pulse

– May develop heat cramps or become faint/dizzy

– Core temperature will be ~_____– Performance may ________– Immediate treatment includes _____

_______ (intravenous replacement, ultimately), place in _____________

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• Heatstroke– Serious _____________ condition, with

unknown specific cause– Characterized by _________- sudden

________, _____, _________, _______ _______, ____________, __________ pulse, and core temperature of > ______

– Temperature must be ______ within ___ minutes

– Drastic measures must be taken to cool athlete• Strip clothing• Sponge with cool water• ____________________________________

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© 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Preventing Heat Illness• _____________ and _____________

– Consume fluids and stay cool• Fluid and Electrolyte Replacement

– Single most important step taken by a ______ to minimize the chance of heat illnesses

– ____________ re-hydration is critically important– Generally _______ of fluid is ever replaced and

should therefore be ___________, ______, and ________________

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– Fluid replacement should _______________• Most effectively replaced at ____________ (____

minutes)– Time of stomach emptying is critical

• Water is ____________________________• Drink with 6% CHO is eliminated at the same rate

if the individual is hydrated• __________ tend to empty ______ and will not

induce cramping• Drinks with ________ and ________ will promote

___________– Hydration levels can be monitored via

______ ______and ______• Appropriate hydration = clear urine at normal or

above-normal output level 60 minutes following exercise

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• Using Sports Drinks– ____________ than just replacing fluids with

_________– Flavoring results in __________________

__________– Replaces ______ and ____________– Small amounts of ______ help in ______ of

_____– Different drinks have different nutrient levels– Optimal CHO level is ___ per _ ounces of water– More CHO results in _________________– Effective for both _______and __________

activities

© 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

• ______________________– Most effective method of avoiding heat

stress– Involves becoming ____________ and

________________– Early pre-season training and _____

____________ are recommended with progressive exposure over _______ period

– _____ of acclimatization can be achieved during __________ with ___________ and _________ practice sessions

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• Identifying Susceptible Individuals– Athletes with ______________– ____________________– Athlete with ________________– While slight differences exist,

precautionary measures apply to both males and females

– Athletes consuming ___________ or ___________may have impaired sweating and may predispose them to injury

• Uniform Selection– Base on temperature and humidity– Dress for the weather and temperature– Avoid _________________

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• Weight Records– Keep track of ______ and ______

measures for first _____________– If increase in temperature and humidity

occurs during the season, weights should again be recorded

– A loss of _____ = _______________ and could be a ____________

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Hypothermia• Most activity allows for adequate heat

production (_____________) and dissipation, allowing for sufficient functioning

• Impact on _________ and “________”• Temperature in conjunction with _______

and _________ or ________ can increase chances of hypothermia

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• With muscular fatigue, ___________ begins to drop and ______________ relative to _____________ may shift – Results in impaired ____________

_________and exhaustion• Drop in core temp stimulates ________

but stops after temp drops below ______• _______ is imminent when temp falls

below __________

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Cold Disorders• Fluid replacement is critical even under

colder environmental conditions– Dehydration = decreased blood volume =

_____________________________• May be useful to monitor weight of

athletes training in cold temperatures• While less common, injury/illness due to

the cold still occur, particularly in endurance type activities, _________ and __________________

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• Prevention– Apparel geared for weather to provide

semitropical microclimate for body and prevent chilling

– _________ and __________ fabrics that allow passage of _____ and _____, and allow movement

– ______ and adjusting them are key to maintaining body temperature (during period of (in)activity)

– Inadequate clothing, improper warm-up and chill factor can lead to _____, ______, and/or minor ________________

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Overexposure to Sun• Precautions must be taken to protect

athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and support staff

• Long Term Effects on Skin– Premature aging and skin cancer due to

ultraviolet exposure– Premature aging is characterized by

_______, _______and _______of the skin– __________ is the _________________

________found in humans

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• Using Sunscreen– Can help prevent damaging effects of UV

radiation– Sunscreen effectiveness is expressed as

SPF (_________________)• ____________________________________

____________________________________ ____________________

• The greater the __________, the ________ the SPF that should be used

– Should be worn by athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers who are outside a considerable amount, and/or have _____ _________, _______, _______, or _____ ________________

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– Sunscreen use is at its highest ______ - _________ but should be used year round (particularly between the hours of _______)

– It should be applied ___________ before exposure and re-applied after exposure to _____, __________, ________________ ______________