12 Year old dies at football practice - FOR PARENTS:

[Coexist]

Below is the some of the article. I am posting this in GD because I know a lot of you are parents. The weather has been very hot this summer all over the country and football practice is beginning for most associations.

If your child plays sports (especially football - lots of equipment and a helmet) PLEASE HYDRATE THEM BEFORE PRACTICE. They need Gatorade BEFORE sports and water DURING practice.

I run a youth football association in the Tampa area - we are not affiliated with the one below - but it could happen anywhere. Children should drink a LOT before they get to practice. Make them drink on the WAY to practice. Instruct them to DRINK during water breaks, not goof with their friends.

PLEASE - this happens places other than Florida.

Thank you.

http://www.wfts.com/stories/2006/07/060719player.shtml
Father talks about son's death at football practice
an ABC Action News Video report 07/19/06


TAMPA - The father of a 12-year-old who died during football practice says he wants some answers in how his son died.

<snip>
He says, He gave me a hug, I gave him a hug, he gave me a kiss and I kissed him. He told me that he loved me and I told him that I loved him and that's how we parted ways."

A day later, Bobby Stevens Jr. collapsed at football practice and died on the way to the hospital.

It was the end of a two-hour practice in very hot weather, and the team was running one last lap.

<snip>
Players told us the coaches gave them frequent water breaks Monday.

[Broken_Hero]

1. Man, how sad...:(

What a tragic loss...:(

[OhioChick]

2. I hear of this happening all too often.......

such a terribly sad situation.

Thanks for posting the reminders. :thumbsup:

[DesertRat]

3. So sad. It's a good warning for all parents

It's happened several times here in AZ too. School starts in mid-Aug. when the temps. are still soaring and those kids are out there practicing.

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. I did a couple of stories on a kid this happened to

about 10 years ago, and I learned some interesting things.

One, high school sports physicals rarely do a thorough job of screening for the conditions that cause deaths like this — usually congenital heart defects — even if administered by a private physician.

Two, laws vary by state, but in California the requirement for medical personnel present at sports events is alarmingly lax. I've forgotten the exact wording, but basically EMTs are not required to be at a game, but within a "reasonable" distance or time frame. I think the only legal requirement is for someone certified in CPR to be at a game.

And that's at a game. There's no requirement for practices, which are often just as strenuous.

Part of the reason the law is lax is to not penalize schools or districts that can't afford to pay for an ambulance to stand by during a game. So I guess in California we can partially thank Howard Jarvis and Paul Gann and all the people who voted for Prop 13 in 1978.

[Coexist]

5. Your assessment is correct.

Luckily, there is a firehouse directly across a not-busy street from our practice facility.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Should Have Had a Defibrillator on Hand

All sports events and practices should have a defibrillator at hand for people who collapse and go into cardiac arrest. They cost only $1,000 or so, and they're very effective at reviving victims - no training needed.

So very sad.

[MissB]

9. Yep.

Our small school has two for a student population of 350. Haven't had to use either of them yet.

[SPKrazy]

11. That And Frequent Water Breaks

salt pills
gatorade
anything but pushing kids hard in heat like this

[nealmhughes]

7. It was 105 F today in Florence in far northern Alabama on the Tenn. River

and 103 F in Nashville...

Any physical activity in that inferno was intolerable, much less that of kids getting pushed by coaches, parents, and peer pressure....

[Coexist]

10. we have a "Safety Director" who keep one of these on hand:

http://www.brucemedical.com/heinmo.html

Not that model - but you get the idea. Heat Index Meters are sooo important in the south.

[LizW]

16. Yesterday in a town in north Alabama

my friend was driving by the high school AT NOON and the marching band was on the field. She said she pulled up just in time to see one kid fall out on the field. It was 102 degrees.

[MikeNearMcChord]

8. Five years ago Korey Stringer died on the football field

and this is the NFL we are talking about. Heat sickness is no joke, especially if the body overheats quickly.

[ChristianLibrul]

13. Hydrate at least an hour before practice

If you wait until you're hot and thirsty, it's too late. Don't forget the bananas to replace lost potassium.

The Army's unofficial rule in tropical training is, "If you don't need to pee, you ain't drinking enough." That usually means at least a litre, preferrably two, one hour before activity, and a litre per hour while active.

Tennis players put cold, wet towels on their heads and around their necks during breaks on the hottest days.

In movies like PLATOON, you see actors accurately wearing towels around their necks while on patrol. One reason is to wipe the face and head, but also because a wet towel, even at jungle temperature, cools the neck and, therefore, the brain.

Civil War reenactors often dowse their wool uniform jackets on hot days. It makes the wool softer, and cools the torso.

[Coexist]

14. misting fans are a great way to cool overheated kids

we keep some bar towels in ice water, but these also help:

http://www.cooldraft.com/misting_fans.htm

[Bonobo]

12. Probably not hydration issue, but body temp issue

You can sweat litres of fluid before you even APPROACH mild dehydration.

The talk about all this constant hydration being necessary is a misunderstanding. Humans do not need to walk around sipping little bottles of water constantly as if we are losing moisture like a salamander out of water.

The issue is body temperature. With all that equipment, the body has no way to cool down (evaporation of sweat off the skin being our primary way of reducing the excess heat created as a by product of physical activity).

[Reverend_Smitty]

15. As an athletic trainer...

these are the stories that really make me sad. Heat related deaths are 100% preventable with the proper precautions. I'm fairly certain that the college that I graduated from won't even let the football team do 2-a days any more because of the heat risks. Not to overstate my importance but I think all schools with a sports program should employ athletic trainers full time for no other reason than we are fully trained in emergency care and can spot if someone is in danger like this. The story also said that it required coaches to renew their first aid credentials every two years, which is too long in between IMHO. They have done studies that have shown that most people forget half of what they learn in a first aid class within 6 months. They should make them do refresher courses every year.

[caligirl]

21. a side question for my info, do you guys get any glucagon training

for diabetic athletes?

[Reverend_Smitty]

46. I've personally never dealt with a diabetic athlete but...

we do receive basic training on what to do if someone is going into diabetic shock, and we aren't allowed to administer any medication nor would we be allowed to give an insulin shot...hell we aren't even allowed to administer an eppy pen. We have a bunch of scope of practice regulations that we have to follow. I'd actually have to read up on what we can and cannot do with diabetic athletes

[caligirl]

50. Just a note, low blood sugar(<70) needs more sugar, regular soda or juice.

Insulin is for high sugar (>than 150)It unlocks the cells and allows the sugar into the cell to be used for energy. Otherwise all that sugar is floating out around locked out of the cells and can't be burned for energy. Its a common misconception about when insulin is needed.

on Edit I reread your post and I might have read something into it that wasn't there. I think you actually meant the shot as a separate thing. I linked to low blood sugar becuse I hear this so often, even from RN's who aren't well infromed about hypo's and hyper's. So I didn't want to offend, just wanted to put a little more info out there, you never know it could help someone. My son is going off to college and I wonder what kind of help will be there for him in the college fitness center if he goes low on say the treadmill. Just a helocopter parent here.

[Reverend_Smitty]

55. I was speaking in generalities about all diabetics

basically if it requires giving more than a glass of OJ we are legally not allowed to administer it

on edit:
I think the basic rule of thumb when dealing with a diabetic is always give sugar because if their blood sugar levels are too high it won't matter, and if they are too low, it will obviously help

[caligirl]

56. That is a great rule of thumb. I like that, its simple and easy to recall

[Coexist]

64. We had a young diabetic - his mom sat on the sidelines during the game

and tested him about 4 times.

She was really good about monitoring the situation.

[phylny]

22. OT, sorry but I have to ask - where did you go to school?

Our middle daughter, a soccer player, wants to go to school for athletic training. She's a senior this year, and is so pumped about college.

You don't have to say if you don't want, I'm just being nosey :)

[Reverend_Smitty]

45. Rowan University

It's in Glassboro NJ...about 20 minutes south of Philly

If she still wants to play soccer in college, our program would allow people to continue with their sports. A lot of programs make you choose either athletic training or sports, the only catch is she might have to stay an extra semester or two if she plays all four years just because it would be impossible to get in all her clinical hours and play a sport at the same time

here's the program overview page
http://www.rowan.edu/colleges/education/departments/health_exercise_science/undergraduate/athletic_training/

[phylny]

62. Aren't you kind to answer!

Thanks - and yes, I know there aren't many choices for athletes who want to play due to the clinical hours involved.

Thank you SO much!

[Reverend_Smitty]

69. No problem

The program is always looking for more bright students. That and the women's soccer program is top notch for DIII...I worked with them one semester in my undergrad and they were a great bunch of women. Last year they won the NJAC (New Jersey Athletic Conference) title and made the NCAA tournament

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. We have cheer camp this week and u can bet i'be making them

drink plenty and take frequent shade breaks.

[Cleita]

18. My 2 cents.

I'm not a sports fan, but traditionally, there are sports that aren't played in the heat of summer and I believe football is one of them.

Also, if you are going to train in summer, take a lesson from our friends in the tropics. They know that the hot hours of the day are for siesta and hard work is better done early in the morning or in the cool of the evening.

Now that football fields are lighted up, what is wrong with practice after the sun goes down?

[phylny]

23. Starting in August, our daughters have high school soccer practice

from 8-10 a.m., and 4-6 p.m. It makes sense to me.

[RamboLiberal]

57. 4-6PM in August can still be too hot

Be better if they started at 6 or 7PM or even later if they have lights if temps are high.

[lonestarnot]

27. Thank you Clieta!

And personally I think sports suck ass. Kids strive to be the all star or the hero stand out. Professional players are paid to much for shit nothing. Injuries can be life altering. College athletes on scholarships waste scholarship money while getting passed over academically and therefore are cheated at least twice.

[fishnfla]

34. The epidemic of childhood obesity in this country supports your view

Our children need to spend more time with the remote control, video games and sedentary snacking. Take a look around, the lack of physical fitness in our country gives a whole new meaning to the term "well-rounded"

Having our children participate in organized sports is one of the best decisions we've made as parents.

[Cleita]

36. Sports won't cure that.

I believe childhood obesity is caused by junk food and convenience food. When I was in school, there wasn't a gym class that I didn't find a way to get out of most of the time, yet I, like most of my classmates, was quite thin. We didn't have McDonalds and the rest of the fast food emporiums then. There was maybe one fat kid in the class if that many.

Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs and french fries were a treat that we got occasionally, not everyday. I agree though in limiting the amount of time with couch potato activities and making kids go outside and get some exercise. I got mine mostly bike riding and roller skating.

[lonestarnot]

49. Fried food, no veggies and lots of soda pop in combination

with limited activity is the culprit. Organized sports doesn't stop the production or ingestion of this junk. "I used to ride my bike to school, 2 miles in 120 degrees." (More fun than the snow) Melt that crap right off of ya.

[Coexist]

65. one problem in my area is encephalitis

from mosquitos. So we practice from 6-8 p.m.

[porphyrian]

19. The fucking coaches should know better.

They are responsible for the children in their care. Accidents have and always will happen, but this is bullshit.

[tomreedtoon]

24. Coaches are teachers. And teachers don't care.

In fact, coaches are the one variety of teachers that can physically abuse kids and do it with no questions asked. What makes you think any teacher, any teacher at all, gives a damn for the kids under their care? That would be like a chicken farmer caring for the animals he's planning to slaughter.

[displacedtexan]

25. Jeez, what did the teacher do to you?

It must've been really bad.

I taught for over 20 years, and believe me: it wasn't for the salary
and benefits.

It was a calling.

[LostinVA]

26. "And teachers don't care" -- BULL

That's it, nothing else. Your statement is complete and total BULL.

[Occulus]

43. Teachers care, and very deeply, many of them. BUT:

I can tell you from experience that there is no way in hell any of us should tolerate coaches teaching. A classroom is NO place for someone whose primary function in the school is as a coach of a sport; there will be favoritism and cronyism in the classroom. I've seen it from each and every tacher I've ever had who is also a coach of some sort. They all, to a man (and yes, all of them were men), treated the nonathletic kids like crap and the girls like their own personal harem. Nothing- nothing at all- ever seems to be done about t, because gee, the guy's a great coach. Similarly, their athlete studets always seem to get passing grades in the coaches' classes, despite failing nearly everything else. Why? Because with academic requirements in place in order to play, those students need classes they "will" pass.

Coaches need to be kept out of classrooms. They're the only truly BAD teachers I ever had in school....

[ulysses]

28. wow.

Issues much?

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wicket]

31. I played sports throughout elementary, junior high & varsity sports

In high school and have NEVER experienced what you describe.

[tomreedtoon]

71. Well, if you were a jock, how would you notice?

I mean, having somebody's jaw dislocated during a game is nothing to you guys. Sports, and that means all sports, is nothing more than sanctioned streetfighting.

[fishnfla]

32. stupid post eom

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

37. tomreedtoon, are you for real? -nt

[tomreedtoon]

70. Are YOU for real? Did you ever go to a REAL school?

And in what era?

Teachers are by and large the most pretentious, lying, abusive people on earth. They don't care about the subject matters they claim to champion. They stay in the profession because it is the only legalized form of child abuse permittted in the United States.

About the only thing worse is home schooling, because abuse by parents generally goes unnoticed. At least in the public school system somebody might notice and might complain, and maybe the complaint will be acted upon. That's three "maybes," but it's more than home-tortured kids get.

[porphyrian]

44. Ooo, you pissed off the teachers...

But you're not entirely wrong, and part of their outrage comes from knowing this. There are teachers that care, but some more than others and not equally about every single student. Part of the problem is that there is no real respect for education or intelligence in this country (the latter was evidenced on this board when the mere idea of starting a DU Group for gifted people and their families was viciously attacked as "elitist"). Sure, sure, everyone pays lip service to the importance of getting an education, and with the job market as shitty as it is, higher and higher degrees are required for any position that pays worth a damn, but follow the money if you want to see how much of a priority it really is. Teachers get paid shit, and it's a thankless job. Garbage collectors are treated better.

Everyone likes to say they care about children, or to say how horrible it is when bad things happen to them. However, most of the time we are all too involved in our own lives to be able to even think about kids, unless they're ours. And that's exactly my problem with this coach. His life, at least at that time, was the kids on that team. And that fucker dropped the ball.

[IronLionZion]

51. and teachers always slaughter and kill their students

You must have had a horrible time when you were abused. What happened to you was a tragedy, but don't think that all teachers would abuse their students. Teachers are human too, and are often liberal democrats.

[tomreedtoon]

72. Teachers always slaughter hopes and dreams of their students.

Rarely do they get to do it physically, but when they do, it makes up for their low salaries. (And the reason they're paid low salaries is because that's the quality of service they provide.)

Teachers are human, but only on a technicality (they have the same chromosone count as humans) and their politics is usually a cover for what they do. Republicans proclaim they're Christians and don't act like it; teachers claim to be liberals and vote Democratic, but they are very much like the people who set cats on fire.

[donco6]

52. ?? WTF?

"Like a chicken farmer caring for the animals he's planning to slaughter."

I just can't even imagine how to combat this bullshit.

[tomreedtoon]

73. Don't fight the truth, accept it: teachers are sadists.

And again I have to ask the question, in what era did you attend school? In this country? In a public school? I know adults tend to block the most frightening memories of their youth, but you shouldn't be this deep into denial, or "romanticize" the soul-destroying crap teachers put you through.

[liberalitch]

33. Field hockey practice was OVER at 7:30 this morning....

I wasn't taking any chances with my girls.

[porphyrian]

38. Good, you care about your kids.

I think some coaches care more about winning games.

[kster]

20. My heart goes out to the family, I have a twelve

year old starting football practice next week, I have always worried about this, thank you for this thread FLDem5, and thanks for all the informative posts.

[Cerridwen]

29. Hydration is not enough! Warning, please read.

I've just fought my own "battle" with heat issues.

Hydration is not enough. Taking breaks in shaded areas may exacerbate the problem by increase the body's core temperature.

Most people think when dealing with the heat all you have to do is drink lots of water, some sports drinks and take lots of breaks. It gives them a false sense of protecting themselves from heat illnesses.

It takes 10 - 14 days for athletes to acclimatize to the heat. The acclimatization process is different for humid heat than it is for dry heat. During that time hydration helps avoid dehydration but does little help to the body adjust to maintaining its core temperature; if the body's temperature is rising faster than the person can take in water. Once the body's core temperature increases, the person needs to get to an air conditioned area as soon as possible. Rather than waiting for the temperature to rise, they should take lots of breaks in an air conditioned location. Hydration is not enough and will not keep the body's core temperature from rising.

Heat cramps are caused by the body sweating away sodium, potassium and other electrolytes the body needs. They can be avoided by consuming sports drinks (watch the sugar, folks).

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body's core temperature rises too much for the body to cool. Symptoms include, exhaustion, dehydration (in spite of the amount of fluids taken in), mental confusion/disorientation, clumsiness, headache, nausea and if it starts to become severe, vomiting and unconsciousness. Heat exhaustion occurs on a scale and can go from minor to severe (heat stroke) in a short time.

Heat stroke can result in death. The body's core temperature raises so much, organs begin to shut down. The person should be removed from the heat immediately and medical help should be called at once.

Hydration is not enough! Sports drinks are not enough! The person should have frequent air conditioned breaks until their body acclimatizes to the heat conditions.

See attached links for more symptoms and information.

http://www.usariem.army.mil/somalia/heat.htm

http://sportsci.org/encyc/heataccl/heataccl.html

[sgxnk]

35. more kids

on a pure carnage basis :l school sports equal or betters oncampus shooting-homicides. when you crunch the #'s for school shootings (and eliminate suicides and offcampus events)... well...

that is a statistic that helps put things in perspective fwiw

here's an abstract and then an article just on nontraumatic deaths (many other deaths from trauma)

----abstract:
Nontraumatic deaths occur each year in organized high school and college athletics, resulting in considerable public concern. We conducted a study of the frequency and causes of nontraumatic sports deaths in high school and college athletes in the USA through the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research to define the magnitude of this problem and its causes. Over a 10-yr period, July 1983-June 1993, nontraumatic sports deaths were reported in 126 high school athletes (115 males and 11 females) and 34 college athletes (31 males and 3 females). Estimated death rates in male athletes were fivefold higher than in female athletes (7.47 vs 1.33 per million athletes per year, P < 0.0001), and twofold higher in male college athletes than in male high school athletes (14.50 vs 6.60 per million athletes per year, P < 0.0001). Cardiovascular conditions were more common causes of death than noncardiovascular conditions. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congenital coronary artery anomalies were the most common causes of death. In high school and college athletes, males are at increased risk for nontraumatic sports deaths compared with females even after adjustment for participation frequency; college males are at greater risk than high school males. In all groups the deaths were primarily due to cardiovascular conditions.

----article:
Sport by its very nature includes inherent risks, including the risk of death. Death in sport is tragic. Fortunately, it is rare. It is important to be aware of the remote possibility and the need for shared responsibility for sports safety among athletes, parents, coaches, and sport organizations.

A study done by Dr. Van Camp and colleagues (1995) described 160 cases of non-traumatic death in high school and college athletes between 1983 and 1993. The ratio of males to females was about 10 to 1, 146 males (average age 16.9 years) to 14 females (average age 16.2 years), and the age range was 13 to 24 years. In another study, Dr. Barry Maron and colleagues (1996) described the clinical profile of 134 athletes who had cardiovascular causes of sudden death between 1985 and 1995. The ratio of males to females was again about 10 to 1 (120 males to 14 females). The median age at death was 17 years, which means that one-half of the cases were 17 years of age or younger; the age range of the total sample was 12 to 40 years. Interestingly, the sample included 12 boys, 14 years of age or younger, who were involved in organized youth sports or junior high school sports.

In both studies, the major contributor to sudden death from cardiovascular causes during sport was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In the study of high school and college athletes, 136 of the 160 cases had adequate information to identify cause of death. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was the cause in 50 of 92 males and in 1 of 8 females with cardiovascular conditions. In the other study, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was cited in 48 of the 134 athletes. The second most common cardiovascular cause of death in the two studies was congenital abnormalities of the blood vessels servicing the heart (the coronary arteries), 16% and 13% in each study. A variety of rare cardiovascular conditions as well as several apparently "normal hearts" were represented in the remainder of the cases of sudden death.

Basketball and football were the two sports most represented among the athletes described in both studies. This is in part due to the relatively larger numbers of youth and young adults who participate in these sports. Overall, 12 sports for males and 6 for females were represented in the study of high school and college athletes. Nevertheless, the occurrence of non-traumatic sports death is rare. The estimated rates for non-traumatic sports death in high school and college athletes are 7.5 and 1.3 per million athletes participating per year in males and females, respectively. Interestingly, the estimated rate is higher among college male athletes than among high school male athletes, 14.5 and 6.6 per million athletes participating per year, respectively.

According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, 100,000 young athletes die each year from all cardio-vascular disorders, including cardiomyopathy, as a result of participation in sports. This is twice as many as die in auto accidents. Of the 100,000 who die annually, 45,000 of them play basketball, not boxing or football.

A case in point is that of the late Boston Celtic basketball star Reggie Lewis. Reggie died of a cardiomyopathy heart attack. The cause of his heart attack was a simple Selenium deficiency. His outcome could have been prevented with the proper mineral supplementation. The cardiologist who cared for Reggie Lewis was also the cardiac expert for the NBA. He was an avid runner and had personally completed the Boston Marathon three times. Well the marathon running doctor, at the age of 48, died one and half years after Reggie due to a cardiomyopathy heart attack. He also died for the exact same reason Reggie died, a simple Selenium mineral deficiency.

In 1996, a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) cardiologist says that routine cardiovascular testing to prevent exercise-related sudden death in athletes has limited usefulness because of the rarity of such events, the cost of screening and poor predictive accuracy of exercise testing for such events. Rather, Paul Thompson, M.D., UPMC director of preventive cardiology, claims physicians should perform routine screenings in young athletes, carefully to evaluate exercise-induced symptoms, and ensure that adults know the symptoms of heart problems.

Coronary artery disease is the major cause of exercise-related cardiovascular complications in adults, while in younger people the cause is congenital abnormality. The incidence of exercise death is low; approximately 0.75 per 100,000 young male athletes and .13 per 100,000 young female athletes. About six per 100,000 middle-aged men die during exertion each year.

Despite the low absolute risk of cardiac problems during exercise in previously healthy men, the death rate per hour of exercise increases as activity continues. In a study in Rhode Island, for example, the relative risk of sudden death was seven times higher during jogging than during other activities.

Routine testing has been advocated to detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the leading cause of sudden death. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is inflammation of the heart muscle. Yet, according to Dr. Thompson, five studies which included more than 5,000 high school and college athletes found no definite cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Similar problems plague routine testing to screen exercising adults, he writes.

[elias7]

39. Cardiac issues certainly possible

Heat stroke is deadly but more common in elderly during heat waves since they don't sweat as much, a combination of physiologic changes with age and certain medications (e.g. anti-cholinergic qualities found in many classes of drugs). Heat exhaustion is more common in youths as they are better able to regulate body temperature. Underlying cardiomyopathy (IHSS, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) is always suspect in these cases, and that should be able to be determined. Hopefully, at that age, drugs are not involved, but stimulants (both recreational and prescription) as well as anti-histamine/anti-cholinergic meds (sweat inhibition) could play a role in the heat related deaths.

Anyone who has a child/teen who has passed out after extertion or has a family history of sudden cardiac death, might best be screened for IHSS. Similarly, certain meds for depression, bipolar and psychotic disorders, cold medications and anti-histamines, stimulants, or especially a combination of these meds, can worsen heat related effects, and therefore could be potentially dangerous in the extreme temperature setting.

[Misskittycat]

40. I talked to an 11-year-old about this to make sure he was getting

enough water during his Little League games. He said the coaches told the team about dehydration, and to drink water, but I emphasized how important it was to keep hydrated before and during the game.

[SmokingJacket]

41. Two hours working in the hot sun is too much for a child, period.

"Water breaks" are not enough to cool off the body.

[madrchsod]

42. look ya have to tough`n up those kids!

they need to be men to play football!

as a youth soccer coach for 17 years i have watched the grade schools football team practice in full uniforms in 80-90 degree heat. meanwhile my kids went thru light work outs,plenty of breaks ,and alot of talking back and forth about the next game. by the end of practice my kids were not dead while the footballers looked like they need to be triaged.

[AspenRose]

47. Band practice is coming up too

Practicing halftime drills, etc. in the heat. At least we did in TX. Our Band Camp started in mid-July (!).

[Love Bug]

48. When I was in Navy bootcamp in Orlando FL during Aug-Oct

We did not have any athletic activites or drill practice during the hottest parts of the day because of the possiblity of heat stroke. Why the HELL are 12 year olds, who are playing a SPORT, which is supposed to be for FUN, doing practicing (not even playing a game!) in this kind of weather? I'm sorry, but that is child endangerment and abuse. Another symptom of the stupid sports-obsession of our culture that causes otherwise sensible adults to lose their minds. WINNING IS EVERYTHING!

Sorry -- this just pisses me off. SUCH an unnecessary death. Yes, I know playing sports come with risks, but this is just plain nuts.

[Ilsa]

53. "The Junction Boys"

Coach Bear Bryant got them so wiped out practicing in the summer heat preparing for Texas A&M Footbal season that they could barely field a team that year IIRC. This story should be required reading for anyone who coaches during the summer, IMO.

[WI_DEM]

54. and make sure that the coaches are keeping them hydrated enough

and not pushing them too hard on intensely hot days.

[Zhade]

58. Frequent water breaks WORSEN the situation.

Especially if the water is purified - i.e., no minerals - water. Too much water flushes vital nutrients.

Electrolytes must be replaced, not pissed away!

[Reverend_Smitty]

60. Hyponatremia is rare in these cases

if someone is at a 2 hour practice and his kidneys were functioning properly, I won't say it was impossible but highly unlikely to drink enough to get it. I agree Gatorade is the best thing for situations like this but I guarantee it wasn't the water breaks that killed this kid. I would be more worried if he were running a marathon. But yes electrolytes must be replaced I would recommend to any athlete to bring a bottle or two of sports drink with them to practice because most schools won't provide it

[Coexist]

63. most of the situations I have been privy to, have been because

the child showed up at practice partially dehydrated.

All the water breaks in the world won't make up for it then.

A lot of after-school practices are bad because the kids go from class right to practice. They should be allowed to down a gatorade during their last period. I make mine drink steadily from after-school until practice, 20 ounces, or they don't go to practice.

We practice late evening, which helps, too. Game day is where the problems surface for us. Games are long and HOT and humid. Coaches are so busy switching kids out and monitoring the game, they can't watch the sideline kids to make sure they are drinking. Most are so into the game, they forget. We keep a Team Mom on the bench to push fluids. We also have cold towels, cold oranges and bananas at half-time in the shade.

Football in Florida is tough. We work hard to keep it safe. I am always reading up on the latest studies before the season and circulating the info to our coaches.

We had the Bucs trainer at a recent event - he was very helpful with heat tips.

Thank you all for sharing your insight.

[Zhade]

68. From what I understand, most USAmericans are consistently dehydrated.

Our diet is terrible!

[RamboLiberal]

59. Here's another death - 16 year old in Kentucky

http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=5171564&nav=3w6o

Did Heat Factor In FB Player's Death?

New Media Producer: Kerry Corum

UPDATE, THU, 6:00 AM: We may soon find out why a high school football player died after practice Wednesday.

An autopsy on 16-year-old Ryan Owens in scheduled for later Thursday.

Owens was on the field Wednesday morning at Henderson County High School. He collapsed as he left practice.

Ryan was given CPR and taken to the hospital. School officials say Owens died at 10:36 AM Wednesday.

[RamboLiberal]

61. I saw a lot of stupid stuff in martial arts during summers

and other hot days.

When I taught I would get yelled at by the master instructor for giving people breaks every 15-20 minutes to get water during a 1 - 1.5 hour class. But I didn't give a damn cause I figured it was better to get yelled at than to have a student drop dead from the heat.

He was a traditional Korean instructor who thought breaking for water was weak. And that was fairly recently. Yet he has a big chain of very successful schools and a federation of schools across this and other countries.

I could also never figure out why we had to stick with the traditional heavy sweat sopping uniform and not even be allowed to roll up the sleeves or go with a T-shirt during the hot weather. Always figured the kung fu people were smarter for allowing their students to wear t-shirts.

When I taught a class at the Y - which didn't have air-conditioning in the gym - I took the kids outside to the basketball court or to the softball field (if empty) in the evenings. I never told the master instructor, but I also would let the kids wear a t-shirt instead of the heavy uniform top.

And if it was super hot we'd do more self-defense drills instead of the more intense kicking and punching drills.

When I first started martial arts 30+ years ago I loved working out summer nights in the dojang but I also learned some real lessons on using sports drinks and water to stay hydrated. The dojang was not air-conditioned so it got like a steam bath but the saving grace was usually the classes were so crowded the instructor was forced to give a break and we'd about drown ourselves back at the sink in the girl's room. Some of the guys would get so soaked in sweat they had to bring 2 uniforms for a class.

I was too much the rebel and the liberal for traditional militaristic martial arts - surprised I lasted as long as I did. BTW, it also showed me how easily people get a cult like attitude about a leader.

Parents - I know martial arts have a big kid participation these days - make sure you watch the class and make sure you think the instructor is sensible about hot weather training. It's such a big business these days most instructors have air-conditioned gyms, but there are still some ill-informed instructors out there. They may have martial arts training but many have little training in sports-related health.

[Roland99]

66. A local HS football player died here the other day.

State athletic assoc. deems no practice when heat index hits 104.


Uh...why wait until 104?


And why not practice early in the morning or late in the evening?


Makes NO sense.

[Warren DeMontague]

67. Oh, wow. What a horrible tragedy.

My heart goes out to the poor parents. :(

[roseBudd]

74. Florida is too hot in the summer for exercise...

and as I am sure other states such as Texas.