RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 IOC consensus statement on recommendations and regulations for sport events in the heat
JF British Journal of Sports Medicine
JO Br J Sports Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine
SP 8
OP 25
DO 10.1136/bjsports-2022-105942
VO 57
IS 1
A1 Racinais, Sebastien
A1 Hosokawa, Yuri
A1 Akama, Takao
A1 Bermon, Stephane
A1 Bigard, Xavier
A1 Casa, Douglas J
A1 Grundstein, Andrew
A1 Jay, Ollie
A1 Massey, Andrew
A1 Migliorini, Sergio
A1 Mountjoy, Margo
A1 Nikolic, Nebosa
A1 Pitsiladis, Yannis P
A1 Schobersberger, Wolfgang
A1 Steinacker, Juergen Michael
A1 Yamasawa, Fumihiro
A1 Zideman, David Anthony
A1 Engebretsen, Lars
A1 Budgett, Richard
YR 2023
UL http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/1/8.abstract
AB This document presents the recommendations developed by the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission and several international federations (IF) on the protection of athletes competing in the heat. It is based on a working group, meetings, field experience and a Delphi process. The first section presents recommendations for event organisers to monitor environmental conditions before and during an event; to provide sufficient ice, shading and cooling; and to work with the IF to remove regulatory and logistical limitations. The second section summarises recommendations that are directly associated with athletes’ behaviours, which include the role and methods for heat acclimation; the management of hydration; and adaptation to the warm-up and clothing. The third section explains the specific medical management of exertional heat stroke (EHS) from the field of play triage to the prehospital management in a dedicated heat deck, complementing the usual medical services. The fourth section provides an example for developing an environmental heat risk analysis for sport competitions across all IFs. In summary, while EHS is one of the leading life-threatening conditions for athletes, it is preventable and treatable with the proper risk mitigation and medical response. The protection of athletes competing in the heat involves the close cooperation of the local organising committee, the national and international federations, the athletes and their entourages and the medical team.