The incidence of heat-related illnesses and deaths is expected to rise as heat waves become more frequent in some areas. Can policies that mandate risk-reducing behaviors lower the likelihood of heat illness and save lives? Few studies have addressed this issue, but recent research in Environmental Health Perspectives found that when states implemented guidelines to help ward off exertional heat illness (EHI) in student athletes, rates did, in fact, fall dramatically. In 2009, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Inter-Association Task Force (NATA-IATF) published guidelines for preventing EHI among high school athletes. The NATA-IATF guidelines include giving students time to acclimatize to the heat during preseason activities, modifying the lengths of practice periods and breaks, and limiting days with two practices. In addition, an athletic trainer with the authority to cancel or delay practice due to heat should always be present during training.
Language: en
LA - en SN - 0091-6765 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP5833 ID - ref1 ER -