〈Beware of heatstroke!〉

　Heatstroke is a collective term for ailments that occur following intense activity in a hot environment (with high temperatures, high humidity, no breeze, and direct sunshine).
　Among sports injuries, it’s the one most likely to put the sufferer in a serious condition, and in a worst-case scenario can even lead to death. At Kanazawa University in the past, fatal accidents have occurred of heatstroke, and there have also been serious cases that have led to multiple organ failure.It’s a dangerous condition, so make sure you are aware of how to respond to it in an emergency. There is an ice-making machine in front of the equipment storeroom on the Rugby Field, in front of the equipment storeroom on the Athletic Field, and on 2F of the Gymnasium, so please make use of them.

★Heatstroke symptoms

• Level Ⅰ (mild): Symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, muscular pain, muscular stiffness (cramps), and profuse sweating. The cause is a loss of water and salt (sodium) due to sweating. This level used to be referred to as “heat cramps.” Treatment involves moving the person to a cool place and having them consume a sports drink (water containing 0.2% table salt).
• Level Ⅱ (intermediate): Symptoms include headache, feeling unwell, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and lethargy. The cause is circulatingblood being dispersed to capillaries near the surface of the skin for the purpose of transpiration and transmission of heat, resulting in a relative lack of blood flow to major organs. This level used to be referred to as “heat exhaustion.” Treatment involves taking the person to hospital for a transfusion of extracellular fluid (Ringer’s lactate or saline solution)
• Level Ⅲ (serious): Symptoms include disturbance of consciousness, seizures, impaired limb movement, and high body temperature (40 degrees Celsius or higher). The cause is a drop in circulating blood volume, higher oxygen consumption and metabolism due to the high temperature, and damage to the nervous system and organs. Previously, only this level was referred to as “heatstroke). It describes a situation in which a rise in body temperature has resulted in abnormal function of the central nervous system. You need to call an ambulance so the person can receive specialist treatment at a hospital.

★Key points for preventing heatstroke

• Health management: Take care to maintain your physical condition on a day-to-day basis, and do not force yourself to exercise if you are in poor physical shape, e.g. suffering from exhaustion, a fever, a cold, diarrhea, etc.
• Exercise management: Put together a training and competition plan that doesn’t overexert you. Determine break times in advance, and endeavor to resupply yourself with water and sodium.
• Exercise environment management: Pay attention to the weather conditions, temperature, humidity level, etc. on days you exercise. On fine days during the summer, the temperature can rise to abnormal levels. At such times, it is important to refrain from exercising.
  Ministry of Environment site with information about preventing heatstroke
• When the temperature is 35°C or higher (WBGT heat index of 31°C or higher), exercise should be stopped in principle.