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Environmental Conditions

Environmental Conditions. O bjectives. What are the main causes of heat or cold illnesses among athletes? What is the role of an athletic trainer in preventing heat and cold illnesses? What is the role of an athletic trainer in protecting athletes from other environmental concerns?.

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Environmental Conditions

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  1. Environmental Conditions

  2. Objectives • What are the main causes of heat or cold illnesses among athletes? • What is the role of an athletic trainer in preventing heat and cold illnesses? • What is the role of an athletic trainer in protecting athletes from other environmental concerns?

  3. Environmental Stress • Can adversely affect an Athlete’s performance • Can even pose serious health risks

  4. Heat Illness • Is Preventable!!!! • You can save a life by being aware of the environment • Prepare for the unexpected • Don’t challenge the weather, it will ALWAYS win

  5. Exertional Heat Illness • You must be proactive in identifying individuals who are at the highest risk so that these individuals can be given special attention • Who is at risk?

  6. Risk Factors • Dehydration • Large athletes • Illness • Age • Poor physical condition • Poor acclimation or acclimatization • 3-14 days • Clothing and equipment

  7. Exertional Heat Illness • The body’s ability to cool is related to the individual and to the environmentEvaporation is your main defense • Dependent on: • Athlete’s ability to sweat • Athletes hydration level • Humidity

  8. Evaporative Heat Loss • Sweat glands allow water to transport to surface of skin • Evaporation of water takes heat with it • When environment temperature is higher than body temperature, loss of heat through evaporation is KEY

  9. Environmental Risk Factors • Heat • temperature • Humidity • Relative humidity of 65% impairs evaporation • Relative humidity of 75% stops evaporation • Heat Index • The heat you feel when temperature and humidity are combines

  10. Exertional Heat Illness • Heat Rash • Heat Cramps • Heat Syncope • Heat Exhaustion • Heat Stroke • Hyponatremia

  11. Heat Rash • Benign condition • Red, raised rash • Combined with prickling while sweating • Generally localized to areas covered with clothing • Prevent by continually toweling off • Treat with antihistamines, remove from heat, talcum powder

  12. Heat Cramps • Painful muscle spasms • Excessive water loss • Electrolyte imbalance • fatigue • Occurs in individuals in good and poor shape • S/S • Dehydration, thirst, fatigue • Treatment • Drink water, replace electrolytes, stretch, ice

  13. Heat Syncope • Due to: • Rapid fatigue • Over exposure • Standing in heat for long periods of time • Treatment: • Place in cool environment • Consume fluids • Lay down

  14. Heat Exhaustion • Result of inadequate fluid replacement and continued exposure to heat • Core temperature will be normal or below 104

  15. Heat Exhaustion • S/S • profuse sweating • Pale skin • Dizzy • Hyperventilation • Rapid pulse • Headache • Nausea • Cramps • Weakness • Chills • Cool/ clammy skin

  16. Heat Stroke • Serious life-threatening condition • Organ system can be damaged • Loss of consciousness can occur • Core temperature over 104

  17. Heat Stroke • S/S: • Sudden onset • Sudden collapse • Disorientation • Aggression • Staggering • Flushed hot skin • Minimal sweating • Shallow breathing • Low blood pressure • Strong rapid pulse • vomiting

  18. Rectal Temperature • The GOLD STANDARD of core temperature measurement • Oral, tympanic, axillary temperatures may underestimate

  19. Treatment • COOL first, TRANSPORT second • Immersion in cold tub 50- 60 degrees • Ice bags • Fan • Shade • Air conditioning

  20. Transport to Hospital • Heat Exhaustion • If recovery doesn’t happen quickly • Aggressive fluid replacement • Continued cooling • Heat Stroke • Always transport • Aggressive cooling • Must be lowered within 45 minutes • Fluid replacement

  21. Guidelines for Return to Play • Physician clearance • Asymptomatic • Should avoid exercise for at least 1 week • Progression back into activity • Athlete will be hypersensitive in the future

  22. Preventing Heat Illness • Prevention is your BEST TOOL • Prepare • Acclimatization • Check hydration status • Assess environment • Manage the event • Have treatment available

  23. Preventing Heat Illness • Use common sense and caution • Fluid replacement • Unrestricted replacement • Replace every 15 minutes • Clear urine • Acclimatization • 3-14 days • Protective equipment

  24. Preventing Heat Illness • ID susceptible individuals • Weight records • Weigh before and after • Loss of 3-5% of body weight= health threat • Apparel • Light weight and loose • Light colored • Protective equipment

  25. Sun Exposure • Premature ageing of skin, cancer • Suncreen • SPF= Sun Protection Factor • # = how many times longer to burn • Ex: SPF 6= 6 times longer to burn • Apply every 15-30 minutes • Reapply after swimming or sweating

  26. Cold Related Injuries

  27. Cold Related Injuries • Process of Cold Illness • Heat Loss= Body temp. > Outside temp • Cold Injury= Heat loss > Heat production • Predisposing Factors • Hydration • Inadequate clothing • Wind-chill • Wet • Improper warm up • Fatigue • Poor circulation • Age

  28. Body Heat Loss • 65% of body heat is lost through radiation • 1/2 through head and neck • 20% through evaporation • 2/3 through skin • 1/3 through respiration

  29. Hypothermia • The majority of cold illness • Definition: decrease in core body temperature • Life threatening emergency • Core temp below 94º • Biochemical processes slow, simple tasks difficult, shivering • Core temp below 90º • Shivering stops, clumsy, speech problems, cyanosis, pale, slowing of biochemical process

  30. Hypothermia • General treatment (Tx): • Maintain ABC’s, call EMS, dry clothes, heat body, warm fluids • Most activity allows for adequate heat production • Temperature along with wind chill and wetness can increase chances of hypothermia

  31. Cold Injuries • Raynaud’s Phenomena • Cold-induced Bronchospasm • Frost Nip • Frostbite

  32. Reynaud’s Phenomena • Spasms of digital blood vessels • Fingers turn white and painful • Cause is usually unknown • Underlying disease • Anatomical abnormality

  33. Cold-Induced Bronchospasm • Common in young people • Brought on by cold temperature and dry air • S/S: • Difficulty breathing • Coughing • Chest tightness • Wheezing • Tx: • Bronchodilators

  34. Cold Injuries • Localized cooling can result in tissue damage • Formation of ice crystals between cells • Destroys cells • Disrupts blood flow • Clotting may occur

  35. Frost Nip • Occurs with high wind and/or severe cold • Can affect: • Ears • Nose • Chin • Fingers • toes

  36. Frost Nip • S/S: • Skin appears firm • Cold painless areas • Skin may peel and blister (24-72 hrs) • Tx: • Firm pressure • Blowing warm air • Hands in warm areas (if fingers are involved) • DO NOT RUB

  37. Frostbite • Chilblains • 1st degree • 2nd degree • 3rd degree

  38. Frostbite • Chilblains • Result from prolonged exposure • Causes redness, swelling, tingling pain in toes and fingers

  39. Frostbite • 1st degree- superficial frostbite • Skin and 1st layer of subcutaneous tissue • Skin soft to touch • Appears red, then white, then swollen • Usually painless • Typically noticed by others first

  40. Frostbite • 2nd degree • Skin is firm to touch • Appears red and swollen then later white and waxy • When rewarming the area it will feel numb then sting and burn • May blister and be painful for several weeks

  41. Frostbite • 3rd degree- Deep frostbite • Indicates frozen skin requiring hospitalization • Reaches deep tissue damage (bone, tendon, joint) • Rapid rewarming is necessary (100-110º) • Skin is hard to touch • Totally numb • Blotchy white, yellow, or blue • Swollen • painful

  42. Frostbite • Management • Remove from cold • Careful, rapid warming • Water immersion (warm water) • Do not touch edges of basin • Remove clothing, jewelry, rings • Sterile dressing applied • Transport to medical facility • Elevation

  43. Prevention • Cold weather gear • Waterproof and windproof • Allows passage of heat and sweat • Allows movement • Layers (and adjusting them) • Hydration

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