The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is taking steps to raise awareness about heat-related illnesses, which can be fatal. Last year, the NFHS reported that 9,000 athletes suffered from heat-related illnesses.
Causes and Prevention
The number one cause of preventable death in high school football players is exertional heat stroke. Nearly all exertional heat stroke deaths occur during sustained, high-intensity conditioning sessions in the first week of practice, and 97 percent involve football linemen.
In response to these findings, the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) developed a plan to prevent exertional heat stroke in high school football linemen. The committee also distributed resources to member state associations to share with schools in their state, ensuring that schools stay aware of weather issues.
Parents can play a crucial role in keeping their children safe by educating themselves on heat-related illness symptoms and staying informed about their children’s activities. The NFHS website provides valuable information on heat-related illnesses and their symptoms.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
