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Today, a bill I proposed to require exertional heat illness education for certain coaches goes before the Public Health Committee.
As an athletic trainer, I am always concerned with the health of athletes, especially on hot or humid days. It’s important that coaches are properly trained to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of heat illness and this bill, proposed bill 5138 – An Act Concerning Exertional Heat Illness Education for Certain Coaches will be another positive step forward to keeping our athletes safe during practice and competition.
According to the CT Athletic Trainers’ Association,
- Exertional Heat Stroke is one of the Top 3 Killers of Athletes.
- It takes only 30 minutes for cell damage to occur with a core body temperature of over 104 degrees.
- A 55% reduction in exertional heat illness is observed in states that require heat acclimatization compared to states that do not require minimum best practices.
- Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)- Derived from ambient Air temperature, humidity, and radiant heat. Heat Index only derived from ambient air temperature and humidity.
- Through Heat Acclimatization and following (WBGT) Guidelines, Exertional Heat Stroke incidence is drastically reduced.
https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABillStatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB5138
