Abstract
Nonfatal Sports and Recreation Heat Illness Treated in Hospital Emergency Departments—United States 2001–2009
This report provided valuable information about the incidence and characteristics of heat illness related to sports and recreation. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 2001 to 2009 and found that approximately 5946 people were treated in a US Emergency Department (ED) each year for heat illness. The NEISS monitors consumer product-related injuries treated in 100 US hospital EDs. Cases were excluded that were not precipitated by natural or environmental causes.
The incidence of heat illness was highest among males (72.5%) and persons aged 15 to 19 years (35.6%). The most common activities causing ED visits for heat illness were football (24.5%) and exercise, identified as walking, jogging, and calisthenics (20.4%). Although the majority of patients visiting the ED for heat illness were discharged (91.9%), 7.1% were either hospitalized or transferred to higher care, with hospitalization being most common among males and patients aged more than 55 years.
Heat illness is a recognized threat to persons participating in sports and recreational activity. This analysis from the CDC provided epidemiologic information regarding heat illness that might be used for educational purposes, targeting persons 15 to 19 years old, more than 55 years old, males, coaches, and parents.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60:977–980)
Prepared by Matthew Stewart, MD, University of Utah Emergency Medicine Resident, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.