Anyone can be affected by a heat-related illness if they are taking part in a demanding activity in hot weather. (Getty Images)
By Sara McCloskey
A new factor is making the competition extra steamy at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics – the heat.
The Summer Games are predicted to be the hottest on record, as reports show the temperature in Paris during July and August has increased by an average of more than 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit since the Olympics were last held in the city a hundred years ago.
Training nowadays is just as much about managing the heat as it is an athlete’s speed, strength, and endurance. A concern for coaches and athletes – both professional and student – is heat exhaustion.
This concern is one Emily Huss knows well. As the outreach lead athletic trainer for VCU Health’s Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, she’s been caring for student athletes for 11 years. The department works with more than 20 athletic programs at high schools and colleges in the Richmond region to provide athletic trainers.
“Thankfully, we rarely experience these cases due to the athletic training presence and their ability to prepare and prevent these things,” Huss said. “Looking at our entire 14 high schools we cover, we had less than 30 athletes who exhibited heat illness signs and symptoms last year.”
Huss spoke with VCU Health News about the signs and symptoms athletes and coaches should look out for so they don’t become exacerbated by the heat.
What is heat exhaustion and what are the symptoms?
Heat exhaustion is a type of heat-related illness that happens when your body loses excessive amounts of water and salt, usually because you’re sweating a lot. People who exercise when it is extremely hot outside are more likely to get dehydrated and experience a heat-related illness.
Heat exhaustion symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Heavy sweating
- Muscle weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Thirst
Other types of heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat cramps, and heat rash.
How is heat exhaustion treated?
If you or someone you know is exercising but is beginning to feel faint, stop your activity. Move to a cooler area, such as an air-conditioned building or the shade, and loosen any tight clothing. Then, start sipping on cold water slowly.
At what point should someone seek medical attention?
If the proper cool down techniques are being used, but symptoms don’t improve, it is important to seek medical attention.
Some heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke, can make someone confused, dizzy, or become unconscious. It’s important to immediately seek medical attention by calling 911 if these symptoms occur.
How can athletes best prepare their bodies before exercising outside on a hot day?
Hydration is key. There are many ways to monitor this as a student athlete or for anyone exercising outdoors in the heat. One is observing the color of urine: clear/pale yellow is a sign of adequate hydration, and anything darker in color is a sign of dehydration.
It is also helpful to develop the habit of keeping track of an athlete’s pre- and post-workout weights. Generally, the number of pounds a person loses during a workout should be replenished by drinking an equivalent amount of water. For example, if an athlete loses 2 pounds they should drink 2 extra bottles of water. The standard size of a sports water bottle is 32 oz.
What should athletes do during practice to make sure they don’t experience heat exhaustion?
Hydrate! Keep drinking water throughout practice. Moving to shady areas during breaks can also help athletes stay cool. When at home, it’s also important to maintain nutritious diets to help your body recover after exercising so much.
When the athletic trainers are present, we have Heat Stress Trackers and wet bulb thermometers to accurately show us the humidity, heat index, and air temperature to properly guide outdoor activities.
What safety measures should coaches and athletic trainers consider for their athletes during outdoor practices? What about spectators?
Coaches and athletic trainers work with athletes to get their bodies acclimated to the heat over time. Getting used to the heat can help them avoid heat-related illnesses and injuries. Humidity also causes further strain on an athlete because it inhibits the amount of sweat that can evaporate off the skin – preventing the body from cooling down.
We get athletes acclimated to the heat by slowly increasing the amount of gear they wear during outdoor practices. For example, we require football helmets only for the first three days of practice, and then increase to shoulder pads and helmets for the third day. By the sixth day, the players can be in full gear.
Ideally, our coaches are deferring to the athletic trainer present, however, we recognize there are situations where the coaches will need to a make call on whether to have practice or a game because of hot weather. Erring on the side of caution is always best.
Coaches, athletes, and parents with smart phones can use the “Feels Like” temperatures to help make these decisions the general recommendations include:
| "Feel Like" Temperature (Fahrenheit) | Recommendation for Sports Practice / Activities |
| 105 Degrees and higher | No outside activities |
| 95 - 104 Degrees | No equipment (helmets, pads, etc.) to be used during activity |
| 90 - 94 Degrees | Equipment be removed as often as possible during rest breaks, on sideline, etc. |
| Below 89 Degrees | Adequate water supply at all practices and competitions with breaks every 20-30 minutes for rehydration |
Are there certain populations particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses?
Anyone can be affected by a heat-related illness if they are participating in a strenuous activity when it’s hot outside. Those who have a history of experiencing heat-related illnesses are more likely to have one occur again in the future. Additionally, athletes with sickle cell disease or the sickle cell trait need to be aware of their hydration levels.
When it comes to non-athletes, the people who are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses include older adults, very young children, people with chronic health conditions, like high blood pressure, and those working in a hot environment, such as construction workers.
Learn more advanced orthopaedic care and sports medicine at VCU Health
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