Student Health and Safety Information The body cools itself largely through evaporation of sweat. Sweating is a good thing! Heat exhaustionThe body overheats.

Student Health and SafetyInformation

The body cools itself largely through evaporation of sweat. Sweating is a good

thing!

Heat exhaustion—The body overheats when body fluids are lost through sweating. Body temperature remains below 104◦F.

Heat stroke—life-threatening. The person’s cooling system which is controlled by the brain stops working and the internal body temperature rises to the point where brain damage or damage to other organs may result (temperature may reach 105+◦F).

When it is very humid, the body’s cooling mechanism isn’t very effective.

The body loses a combination of fluids and salts (electrolytes)

When this is accompanied by an inadequate replacement of fluids, disturbances in the circulation may result that are similar to a mild form of shock.

Often pale with cool, moist skin Sweating profusely Muscle cramps or pains Feels faint or dizzy May complain of headache, weakness,

thirst, and nausea Core temp elevated—usually more than

100°F (but less than 104°F) with increased pulse rate

Unconscious or has abnormal mental status (dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, or coma)

Flushed, hot, and dry skin (although it may be moist initially from previous sweating or from attempts to the cool the person with water). Your body isn’t sweating anymore (cooling mechanism has failed).

May be hyperventilating Core temperature of 105° or more

Rest in a cool, shaded area Give cool fluids such as water or sports

drinks Loosen or remove excessive clothing Apply cool water to skin (behind the neck

and under the arms are good places) Do not use an alcohol rub or alcohol

period Do not give any beverages containing

alcohol or caffeine

CALL 911 immediately! Until EMS arrives, here are a few things

you can do:1. Move the person to a cooler environment2. Moisten the skin with lukewarm water

and use a fan to blow cool air across the skin

3. Give cool beverages by mouth only if the person has a normal mental state and can tolerate it

Drink before, during and after practices and games

Drink 17-20 oz of water/sports drinks with 6 to 8%Carbohydrate concentrations 2-3 hours before exercise

Drink another 7-10 oz of water/sports drink 10-20 minutes before exercise

Drink early—by the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated

Within 2 hours, drink enough to replace any wt loss from exercise

Carbohydrate concentrations greater than 8% have a slower gastric emptying rate and contribute to dehydration

Salt should never be added to drinks and salt tablets should be avoided

Cool beverages at temperatures between 50-59 degrees F are recommended for best results with fluid replacement

Drinks with Carbohydrate (CHO) concentrations of greater than 8% should be avoided

Fruit juices, CHO gels, sodas, and sports drinks that have a CHO greater than 6-8% are not recommended during exercise as sole beverages

Beverages containing caffeine, alcohol, and carbonation are not be used because of the high risk of dehydration associated with excess urine production, or decreased voluntary fluid intake.

Monster , Red Bull and similar drinks are extremely dangerous and should be avoided all together!

Concussion: a jarring injury to the brain Brain Contusion: a bruise of the brain. This

means there is some bleeding in the brain, causing swelling

Skull Fracture: when the skull cracks. Sometimes the edges of broken skull bones cut into the brain and cause bleeding or other injury

Hematoma: bleeding in the brain that collects and clots, forming a bump. A hematoma may not be apparent for a day or even as long as several weeks. Be watchful for headaches, listlessness, balance problems or vomiting.

It’s usual for someone with a head injury to have a headache, nausea, and to feel dizzy right after a head injury. Other symptoms may include ringing in the ears, neck pain, and feeling anxious, upset, irritable, depressed or tired. One may also have problems concentrating, remembering things, putting thoughts together or doing more than one thing at a time. It’s common for someone who’s had a head injury to forget the events right before, during and right after the accident. Following recovery, the ability to learn and remember new things almost always returns.

Symptoms may be sudden or delayed (even by days) Any symptom that is worsening such as headaches,

nausea or sleepiness Nausea that doesn’t go away Changes in behavior such as irritability or confusion Dilated pupils or pupils of different sizes Trouble walking or speaking Drainage of bloody or clear fluids from ears or nose Vomiting Seizures Weakness or numbness in the arms or legs

A “burner,” also called a “stinger,” is an injury to one or more nerves

between your neck and shoulder. It’s not a serious neck injury.

Burners are not uncommon with football players.

Your shoulder is pushed down at the same time that your head is forced to the opposite side. This stretches nerves between your neck and shoulder

Your head is quickly moved to one side, pinching nerves on that side

The area above your collarbone is hit directly, bruising nerves

Don’t just assume it is a burner. If you have burning, stinging, numbness or tingling in your arms or legs, stop what you are doing until your coach or trainer can assess you.

Burners happen in only one arm at a time. If both of your arms or one arm and a leg are hurt, you may have a serious neck injury, not a burner.

Rule changes that eliminated the head as the initial contact point in blocking and tackling have significantly reduced head and neck injuries.

Remember—1. Keep the head up.2. Keep the head out of contact.3. Helmet must fit properly.

This occurs when an athlete who has already sustainedA head injury, sustains a second head injury beforesymptoms have cleared from the first injury.

A 2nd blow to the head, even if it a minor one, can result in a loss of auto regulation of the brain’s bloodsupply. This leads to brain swelling and increased intracranial pressure. The average time from secondimpact to brainstem failure is quite rapid, taking 2-5 minutes.

Occurrence is rare First of all, avoid returning until

symptoms from 1st injury resolves. Within seconds or minutes of the 2nd

impact, the athlete who is conscious yet stunned may:

1. Collapse to the ground2. Become semicomatosed with rapidly

dilating pupils3. Have loss of eye movement4. Respiratory failure

Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of the male hormone testosterone.They are used illegally by athletes and others to increase muscle mass and To reduce body fat.

Steroid actions: 1.Increase in wt gain and lean body mass2.Enhanced endurance3.Decrease in the recovery time after injury

Psychological effects:1.Euphoria2.Increased motivationBUT: HIGHER LEVELS OF AGGRESSIONVIOLENT OUTBURSTSEXTREME MOOD SWINGS

Can cause irreversible liver damage and cancer

Cardiovascular system can be damaged Reproductive system can be damaged Cholesterol levels often increase Blood pressure is most often elevated Increases heart attack and stroke chances Decreases fertility Increases ligament and tendon ruptures Growth is affected resulting in decreased

height

It is produced naturally by the body— each of us has varying levels stored in our muscles depending on our diets, activity levels and genetics.

Creatine in the body aids in the regeneration of ATP, the energy source that gives muscles the ability to contract

It helps muscles recuperate quickly in athletes who specialize in sprints and quick bursts of activity

It is not been proven to be beneficial to endurance athletes

There is a link to the increase in muscle strains and pulls in athletes using creatine

Creatine draws fluid into the muscles taking it away from the vital organs which results in rapid dehydration

The combination of creatine supplementation, high heat, and high humidity could be deadly!

Not regulated by the FDA therefore the manufacturers are not required to list all of the contents of the package

Evidence that it causes:1. Muscle cramps2. Stomach discomfort3. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE4. AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS ARE UNKNOWN

Is not recommended for anyone younger than the age of 18 or are still developing. A recent survey of the Association of Professional Team Physicians indicated 85% would not recommend creatine until more research was completed.

“Andro” is a nutritional supplement that can be purchased OTC by anyone of any age. In the body it is converted to testosterone and estrogen.

It has no muscle building effects of its own but it can allow athletes to train harder and recover from exercise more quickly.

Side effects are similar to steroids Banned by the NCAA, NFL and International

Olympic Committee

GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid) GBL (gamma butryolactone) BD (butanedoil)It is illegal to manufacture and distribute these

products. They are used to make floor stripper, paint thinner, and other industrial products. These ingredients can cause breathing problems, coma, vomiting, seizures and sometimes death. More than 122 serious illnesses and 3 deaths have been attributed to these products. These ingredients can be found in numerous dietary supplements for bodybuilding, weight loss, and sleep aids.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Staph are very common bacteria that can be found on the skin and in the noses of everyone. Most “staph” species never

cause an infection; but when skin is broken or punctured, staph bacteria can

enter into the wound and cause infection. MRSA is a form of staph that has become

resistant to certain antibiotics.

Through the air On contaminated surfaces Person to person—dirty hands and

fingernails

Can also be transmitted from person to person by “Carriers”(according to the CDC, 20-30% of adults and children in the U.S. are colonized with staph. This means that the bacteria are present but do not cause illness).

WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!! Keep your hands away from your nose and groin Do not share towels, soap, lotion, razors, or

deodorant Shower with soap and water asap after direct

contact sports Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers to wash

hands immediately when hand washing is unavailable

Wash hands after sneezing, blowing, or touching your nose; before and after close contact; and after using the toilet.

Always finish your antibiotic and follow your course of treatment exactly as your Physician explained to you.

Never insist on antibiotics for a viral infection like a cold or the flu.

Discard any unused pills from old illnesses and don’t store any leftover antibiotics in your medicine cabinet.

Don’t share antibiotics! Don’t go to Mexico for antibiotics that you

think may help—drugs are very specific to the type of bacteria it kills.

We don’t take all of our antibiotic because we start feeling better. It kills the weak ones first and leaves the “super-bug” behind.

We take antibiotics when we don’t need to. The bacteria works up a resistance and gets stronger. Antibiotics do not work on viruses—they are only effective on bacteria.

Vets give antibiotics to calves for stress and are given to other animals to make them fatter quicker. In time the bacteria in these animals develop resistance to these drugs and that resistance is passed on to humans.

TELL YOUR COACH IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!

If you are embarrassed and don’t want to tell them, it only delays your treatment and you may be infecting others.

You can still play, it just has to be covered. If you follow school protocol, there is no need for you to be sidelined.

Take all your prescribed medication, even after the infection seems to have healed.

Keep wound covered at all times. Take special care when removing and

disposing of bandages with drainage Towels and linens should be changed out

daily Call your Physician if:1. The infection is no better after 3-4 days2. The infection keeps getting worse3. You develop a fever or your fever worsens

UIL requires each athlete to be assessed by a Physician and cleared for physical activity prior to participation. It

is the law!

An abrupt occurrence where the heart ceases to function and results in death within minutes

It is not a heart attack It is usually due to a malfunction of the

heart’s electrical system. Sudden cardiac death in athletes is

usually caused by a previously unsuspected heart disease or disorder.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy—hereditary condition in which the left ventricle thickens. Most common cause for sudden cardiac death in U.S. athletes.

Coronary Artery Abnormalities—present from birth but can be silent for years until vigorous exercise.

Commotio Cordis—concussion of the heart muscle when struck suddenly by such things as a baseball. This is actually a rare occurrence.

Marfan Syndrome: hereditary abnormality of the ligaments and tendons of the heart. The wall of the aorta can become weak and rupture.

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome—extra conduction fiber that can allow for rapid heartbeat and ventricular fibrillation.

Long QT Syndrome—hereditary abnormality of the heart’s electrical system. Rapid heartbeat can lead to v-fib.

Recreational Drug Use—even someone with a completely normal heart can develop v-fib and die suddenly due to drug use.

Palpitation—feeling fast or skipped heart beats

Dizziness—feeling lightheaded Chest Pain or chest tightness with exercise Shortness of Breath Syncope—fainting or passing out

SB 82 Requires Schools in the State of Texas to have any athlete who loses consciousness to be assessed by a Physician (and cleared) prior to their return to physical activity.

A disease that affects the way

A person breathes.

During an attack, the muscles surrounding the airway

Tighten. This causes the inside of the

airways to constrict and become clogged

with mucus. Both constriction and inflammation make breathing

difficult and labored.

Wheezing Chronic cough (especially at night) Labored breathing Difficulty breathing with exercise Rapid breathing Gasping or sighing Chest tightness

Allergens (molds, animal dander or hair) Exercise Irritants (cigarette smoke, wood smoke,

strong odors, cleaning agents, air pollution)

Weather Certain Medications Strong displays of emotion (anxiety,

crying, yelling, even laughing hard)

1. Preventative Medications—keep the airways open by relaxing the muscles surrounding them to prevent airway constriction from occurring in the first place

2. Rescue Medications (rescue inhalers, “puffers”)—work quickly to open the airways during an attack. They relax the airway by relaxing airway muscles but do not provide long-term asthma control orhelp prevent future attacks.

Take Care of Your Cobra Heart