School Health FOUR UNIVERSITIES TAKING STEPS TO PREVENT HEAT-RELATED DEATHS ON THE FIELD

School Health-Press Release-Four Universities Taking Steps to Prevent Heat-Related Deaths on the Field

FOUR UNIVERSITIES TAKING STEPS TO PREVENT HEAT-RELATED DEATHS ON THE FIELD:

Will Use Innovative Machine to Cool Athletes

HANOVER PARK, Ill.- To reduce the risk of athletes dying on the field because of heat stroke the…

		University of North Carolina
		Wake Forest University
		University of South Florida
		University of Texas

will soon use an innovative machine called the Cool CapeTM during training exercises and at the game, according to Sports Health, a leading sports medicine supplier. Three other universities and the Chicago Bears are considering purchasing a machine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 300 deaths per year are attributable to heat stroke. Athletes who play or practice in hot, humid environments increase their risk of suffering heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat-related illnesses have been the focus of attention among athletic trainers/directors and coaches, particularly with the death of professional football player Kory Stringer and University of Florida player Eraste Thomas Autin.

"The traditional method of using icy towels and fans to cool down football players in full uniform is the least effective way to reduce body temperatures quickly," says James M. Kyle, M.D., a sports medicine specialist and chair of the Emergency Medicine Advisory Committee for Sports Health. Dr. Kyle achieved national recognition when he served as the stadium physician for track and field during the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games.

According to Dr. Kyle, when an athlete exhibits symptoms of heat stress (e.g., nausea, cramping, lightheadedness, confusion), vital signs must be monitored quickly to prevent cardiovascular collapse, the hallmark of heat stroke. "Their pulse, blood pressure and body temperature should be reviewed every 10 minutes," notes Dr. Kyle. "Re-hydration during this period is necessary. If body temperature does not decrease, products such as the Cool Cape machine can help cool the temperature quickly."

The Cool Cape is a new device recently introduced in the market by Sports Health. It is a mobile, self-contained unit that can direct cool, dehumidified air to strategic areas-the neck, kidneys and back, to quickly reduce core body temperature. The Cool Cape has the capability to reduce body temperature in five minutes or less.

"Right now, there is no national protocol that we can follow on how to best treat heat-related illnesses among athletes," says Dr. Kyle. "Student athletes are at greater risk because they may not be familiar with the common signs and symptoms of heat illnesses. There is a need for national consensus guidelines, as well as for products like the Cool Cape, to prevent further deaths related to extreme heat."

As a leading source of sports medicine supplies to the athletic school market, Sports Health has been providing innovative devices and equipment to help athletic trainers and coaches protect their athletes. Sports Health is a division of School Health Corporation, which was founded in 1950. The company achieved success by focusing on the needs of its customers and by broadening its product line.

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