Stay Healthy in the Heat

Know how to prevent, recognize, and treat exertional heat illness.

National Strength and Conditioning Association
Contact: Robyn Curtis 719-632-6722
Email: rcurtis@nsca-lift.org      

Stay Healthy in the Heat

Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB) August 19, 2003 --- With temperatures continuing to reach all-time highs, the same concern echoes across the country - Is it too hot to exercise outside?

To help coaches and trainers increase the safety and performance for athletes engaged in physical activity, especially in warm and hot environments, an Inter-Association Task Force on Exertional Heat Illness was formed to address and review heat illness research, and create consistent information between all health-related organizations.

The panel, which collaborated over a period of four months, was comprised of representatives from 18 leading medical, nutritional, and sports medicine-related organizations, including the National Strength and Conditioning Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Defense, and the National Athletic Trainers Association.

The panels goal was straightforward: to create a unified statement to address the basic issues related to the prevention, recognition, and treatment of heat-related illnesses, and to offer guidelines which they believe will increase widespread safety standards awareness; reduce risks for both professional and recreational athletes alike; and recommend effective treatments so athletes can safely return to their sport.

With the help of local, national, and international media, the Task Force hopes its comprehensive consensus statement, which can be seen in its entirety at www.nsca-lift.org/download/iatf.pdf, will:

·   Encourage increased and accurate education regarding heat illnesses for athletes, coaches, parents and medical staffs.
·   Promote the importance of onsite medical services at various events.
·   Ensure that pre-participation physical examinations have been completed, which include specific questions regarding fluid intake, weight changes during activity, medication and supplement use, and history of cramping/heat illnesses.
·   Help to assure that medical staffs have authority to alter work/rest ratios, practice schedules, amounts of equipment, and withdrawal of individuals from participation in sports, based on heat conditions and/or athletes medical conditions.

For more information on heat acclimation, hydration, or heat illness visit the NSCA website www.nsca-lift.org/press/releases/heat.shtml or call 1-800-815-6826.

Throughout its 26-year history, the National Strength and Conditioning Association has sought to educate its members and increase respect for the strength and conditioning profession. The NSCA fulfills this goal by providing a wide variety of resources such as: exceptional professional journals; cutting edge conferences; scholarship and grant opportunities; educational text and videos; and career services to its 26,000 members.

Visit the NSCA website www.nsca-lift.org for more information.

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