Medical News: Heat Illness and Concussions

Medical News: Heat Illness Strikes Male, Teen Athletes Harder - in Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine from MedPage Today:

"Males and teens are most likely to require a trip to the emergency department for a heat illness related to sports or another recreational activity, researchers found.

From 2001 to 2009, males accounted for nearly three-quarters (72.5%) of emergency department visits for heat illness following such physical activity, according to Ellen Yard, PhD, an Epidemic Intelligence Service officer at the CDC, and colleagues.

Those most affected were 15- to 19-year-olds, who accounted for 35.6% of visits, the researchers reported in the July 29 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report"

Among the findings:

Although the vast majority of patients were treated and released, 7.1% required hospitalization or transfer to another facility for further care. The hospitalization rate was higher in males (8.9% versus 2.4%) and in those 55 and older than in younger individuals (18.8% versus 4.6%).

Overall, most cases of heat illness occurred during football games (24.7%) and exercise such as walking, jogging, and calisthenics (20.4%).

For males, the most common activity leading to heat illness was football for those younger than 20, exercise for those 20 to 44, and golf for those 45 and older.

For females, the most common activity leading to heat illness requiring a trip to the ED was baseball/softball for those 14 and younger, track and field for those 15 to 19, and exercise for those 20 and older.

Yard and colleagues noted that all heat illnesses are preventable.

"Coaches of organized sports teams should schedule frequent rest breaks and encourage fluid consumption, particularly on days that are very hot or humid," they wrote. "Practices that begin during summer months should increase frequency, duration, and intensity gradually to allow athletes to acclimate to the heat."

"In addition to recommendations for sports teams," they continued, "recommendations for individual participants include wearing lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing; exercising early or late in the day when it is cooler; and having an exercise partner."

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Quinn signs school athletes concussions legislation - chicagotribune.com:

"Student athletes from elementary to high school will get better safeguards against concussion injuries under a new law that takes effect immediately.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed the measure Thursday in Chicago. It says that student athletes with concussions must get medical approval before resuming play. The law also requires education for coaches, parents, referees and players about concussion symptoms.

Several other states have enacted similar laws.

Repeat concussions and returning to play too soon raises risks for permanent brain damage.

The law requires school boards across Illinois to join with the Illinois High School Association in developing guidelines and educational materials about concussions for coaches, student athletes and parents."

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UPDATE

Tragic real-world consequences every day.

Two Ga. high school football players die
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/two-Georgia-high-school-football-players-die-after-training-workouts-080211?GT1=39002

NewsCore

Updated Aug 3, 2011 2:53 AM ET
A 16-year-old Georgia high schooler was found dead at a football camp in Florida's Columbia County on Tuesday, WJXT-TV reported.

Hours later, another 16-year-old Georgia high schooler died in an Atlanta hospital a week after being admitted suffering what doctors believe was heat exhaustion, WSB-TV reported.

Donteria Searcy was found unresponsive in his cabin about 11:15 a.m. local time Tuesday, after Fitzgerald (Ga.) High School's football team had finished a morning workout at Florida's O'Leno State Park, where it is holding a summer training camp.

Searcy was taken to a nearby hospital, but attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

An autopsy will be carried out to determine the cause of death, but police do not suspect foul play.

In Atlanta, Locust Grove High School's Forrest Jones died about 9:30 p.m. local time Tuesday. He was admitted to a hospital on July 25 after collapsing following an optional team workout.

Jones' uncle told WSB-TV that doctors believed his death was caused by a heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

The two Georgia students' deaths came just a few days after a rising high school football player collapsed and died after practice in Darlington, SC.

Tyquan Xavier Brantley, 14, was walking off the field with his Lamar High School team Saturday when he collapsed. He was taken to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead about 7 p.m. local time.