Heat, Cold, and Environmental Emergencies in Athletes

Kartik Sidhar; Katlyn Elliott; Michael Ibrahem

doi:10.1016/j.csm.2023.02.008

Heat, Cold, and Environmental Emergencies in Athletes

Clin Sports Med. 2023 Jul;42(3):441-461. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2023.02.008. Epub 2023 Apr 6.

Authors

Kartik Sidhar¹, Katlyn Elliott², Michael Ibrahem³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, 300 North Ingalls Street, NI4C06, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5435, USA. Electronic address: ksidhar@med.umich.edu.
² University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, McKeesport Family Medicine Residency, 2347 5th Avenue, McKeesport, PA 15132, USA.
³ University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Shadyside Family Medicine Residency, 5215 Center Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.

PMID: 37208058
DOI: 10.1016/j.csm.2023.02.008

Abstract

With the increase in outdoor events, there is an inevitable rise in climate-related environmental emergencies. Heat exposure can place athletes at risk for life-threatening heatstroke which requires emergent diagnosis and rapid in-field management. Cold exposure can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, and other nonfreezing injuries that require prompt evaluation and management to minimize morbidity and mortality. Altitude exposure can lead to acute mountain sickness or other serious neurologic or pulmonary emergencies. Finally, harsh climate exposure can be life-threatening and require appropriate prevention and event planning.

Keywords: Altitude; Environment; Frostbite; Heat; Heatstroke; Hypothermia; Sports.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Altitude
Altitude Sickness* / diagnosis
Altitude Sickness* / prevention & control
Athletes
Emergencies
Hot Temperature*
Humans