1. Welcome to SportsJournalists.com, a friendly forum for discussing all things sports and journalism.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register for a free account to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Access to private conversations with other members.
    • Fewer ads.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

heat stroke article in USA Today

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by DocTalk, Aug 16, 2011.

  1. DocTalk

    DocTalk Active Member

    Lead story in USA Today talks about heat stroke and the assertion by the quoted expert that early treatment makes it a 100% survivable disease. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2011-08-15-heat-stroke-still-causing-death-in-athletes_n.htm

    This is somewhat at odds with the scientific literature that suggests death rates that can range from 10% to as high as 75% (in heat stroke that is non exertional...think frail old lady alone in an apartment during a heat wave).http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/166320-overview

    The gist of the article is appropriate: acclimate athletes to hot weather, avoid exercise in the heat of the day, keep athletes well hydrated and have appropriate cooling on scene. The other important recommendation is to have medical personnel at all practices.

    My frustration is that the article sets hyperbole for survival potentially giving false hope and an expert talks about his involvement with 20 legal cases again saying that all were 100% survivable. Interestingly, in 2007 the American College of Sports Medicine's heat illness summary talks about treatment "Cold water immersion provides the fastest whole body cooling rate and the lowest morbidity and mortality for EHS (exertional heat stroke)" but lowest mortality does not equal zero mortality.
    http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2007/03000/Exertional_Heat_Illness_during_Training_and.20.aspx
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page