@article{ref1,
title="Implementing exertional heat illness prevention strategies in U.S. high school football",
journal="Medicine and science in sports and exercise",
year="2014",
author="Kerr, Zachary Y. and Marshall, Stephen W. and Comstock, R. Dawn and Casa, Douglas J.",
volume="46",
number="1",
pages="124-130",
abstract="PURPOSE: Approximately 6500 high school football athletes are treated annually for exertional heat illness (EHI). In 2009, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA)-led Inter-Association Task Force (NATA-IATF) released preseason heat acclimatization guidelines to help athletes become accustomed to environmental factors contributing to EHI. This study examines compliance with NATA-IATF guidelines and related EHI prevention strategies. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional survey completed by 1142 certified athletic trainers (AT), which captured compliance with 17 NATA-IATF guidelines and EHI prevention strategies in high school football during the 2011 preseason. RESULTS: On average, AT reported football programs complying with 10.4 NATA-IATF guidelines (SD = 3.2); 29 AT (2.5%) reported compliance with all 17. Guidelines with the lowest compliance were as follows: &quot;Single-practice days consisted of practice no more than three hours in length&quot; (39.7%); and &quot;During days 3-5 of acclimatization, only helmets and shoulder pads should be worn&quot; (39.0%). An average of 7.6 EHI prevention strategies (SD = 2.5) were used. Common EHI prevention strategies were as follows: having ice bags/cooler available (98.5%) and having a policy with written instructions for initiating emergency medical service response (87.8%). Programs in states with mandated guidelines had higher levels of compliance with guidelines and greater prevalence of EHI prevention strategies. CONCLUSION: A low proportion of surveyed high school football programs fully complied with all 17 NATA-IATF guidelines. However, many EHI prevention strategies were voluntarily implemented. State-level mandated EHI prevention guidelines may increase compliance with recognized best practices recommendations. Ongoing longitudinal monitoring of compliance is also recommended.  Keywords: American football; <p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0195-9131",
doi="10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182a11f45",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182a11f45"
}