Heat Safety Guide for Youth Coaches

Youth sports safety is a concern for any coach--no-one wants to see a kid sustain a serious injury. During the summer, heat illness, in particular, becomes a serious health risk.

Young athletes are too inexperienced to identify symptoms of heat illness. It’s up to you as their coach to watch for signs of heat exhaustion and take appropriate steps to prevent--and if necessary, treat heat-related illness.

 Heat-Related Illnesses

Heat-related illness begins with dehydration, which left untreated can lead to heat exhaustion. In severe cases, heat exhaustion can result in heat stroke, a dangerous condition requiring immediate medical attention.

Signs of Dehydration

Dehydration is characterized by increased thirst and a dry mouth, often accompanied by a lack of energy. Urine output decreases, and urine takes on a darker color.

Signs of Heat Exhaustion in Kids

If you're concerned with heat safety for kids you need to understand heat exhaustion symptoms, which include:

• Dehydration symptoms
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness or fainting
• Excessive sweating
• Headaches
• Loss of coordination
• Muscle and stomach cramps
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Pale skin tone

Heat Illness Risk Factors

Exposure to high temperatures is the primary risk factor for heat illness, whether outdoors or indoors. High humidity is another common factor and reduces how well sweat evaporates even in cooler temperatures. Other contributing risk factors include:

• Certain medications
• Excessive clothing/equipment
• Excessive duration/ intensity of physical exertion
• Insufficient rest and rehydration between exercise
• Insufficient time spent acclimatizing to summer temperatures
• Low cardiovascular fitness levels
• Overweight/obese athletes
• Poor hydration status

Summer Heat Safety Tips

An action plan outlining heat safety for kids should be part of any coach’s preseason preparations. When creating your action plan, keep the following summer heat safety tips in mind:

• Educate kids and parents: Kids are less aware of the dangers of heat exhaustion than adults, and some adults don't fully understand the risks either. At the beginning of the season explain the importance of proper hydration and outline the signs of heat exhaustion.
• Make hydration a habit: Establish mandatory ten-minute water breaks as part of your practice and game strategies. Keep adequate water available and allow kids to access it at all times. A Venture Cooler 65 quart large capacity cooler should hold enough water and sports drinks to get you through a game or practice.
• Assign hydration buddies: At the beginning of the season, give each athlete their own water bottle emblazoned with the team logo (Sediento 40 oz Steel Vacuum Water Bottles make great team water bottles). Assign team members “hydration buddies” so kids can alert each other to the importance of staying hydrated.
• Equipment considerations: On hot or humid practice days, run drills that don't require heavy, heat-trapping equipment such as shoulder pads, helmets, and restrictive clothing. When choosing uniforms, opt for moisture-wicking garments like the Youth CamoHex Colorblock Tee.
• Schedule carefully: When possible, schedule practices and games for mornings and evenings rather than during the heat of the afternoon.
• Shade and cooling accessories: Provide shade, fans, and water for cooling or wetting down clothing and towels.