Heat Illness – Signs/Symptoms/Management

Heat illness is a general term used to describe many different conditions that can result from physical activity in an environment of extreme heat and/or humidity. These conditions are a result of the body becoming dehydrated and/or losing the ability to cool itself. The signs and symptoms of heat illness do NOT necessarily run on a continuum. This means that a person could suffer from heat stroke without showing less severe heat illness conditions such as heat cramps. Please keep this in mind when evaluating the signs and symptoms of your athletes. 

 

The information in this document is provided by the Kansas State High School Activities Association with content contribution from the Kansas Athletic Trainer's Society. The information is meant to provide general information and guidelines for schools to consider when creating or updating their school's heat/hydration policy.