Action:

-Read the "questions you might want to consider" below. Brainstorm additional questions. After you do some research, you will probably come up with even more questions.

-Divide the responsibility for finding answers and doing research between group members

-Use the links below to begin your research. Additional information can be obtained by conducting Internet searches, using print materials (books or magazines) and interviewing local experts.

-Help each other clarify confusing information. Make sure that each person in the group understands all the information

-Present an overview of your findings to the class orally. All physicians must participate.

-Your teacher will "jigsaw" your class to create teams of three with one physician, one coach, and one investigative reporter on each team. The goal of these teams will be to produce products (newsletters, skits, web pages, posters, etc.) to educate and influence athletes, coaches, and parents. Click here to find out more about the products.

Questions you might want to consider:

-What are the causes and symptoms of heatstroke?

-What risk factors increase the likelihood that someone will suffer from heatstroke

-Are there any medicines that can be used to treat heatstroke?

-Is it true that placing a victim in an ice bath is an effective treatment?

-What organs and systems are affected by heatstroke? What happens to them?

-Is it true that the body can be acclimatized to exertion in the heat?

-What should emergency room personnel do for a heat stroke patient?

-What are some common misconceptions or myths about heatstroke and its prevention?

Links:

CNN Health: Heatstroke A good overview of the topic

American Academy of Family Physicians Technical, but very good

EMedicine Article on heatstroke. For emergency room personnel. Very comprehensive.

Heat Related Illness from the Air Transport Nurses Association. For medical personnel.

Heat Acclimatization What people can do to prepare their bodies for exertion when it's hot

American Medical Association: Heat Related Illness

Dehydration and Heat Injury Explores the connection between too few fluids and heat stroke

The Physician and Sports Medicine Information from doctors who specialize in treating athletes

Center For Disease Control (CDC) Extreme Heat Homepage

SportsInjury.com article on hyperthermia

Other links are on the resources page

Other Resources:
Don't overlook the following sources of information:

• Library books
  
• Local experts (Interview a doctor in your areas who treats athletes)
  
• Other experts (Many of the web sites you will examine offer email links to doctors, trainers, and other experts. Explain your project, prepare a few intelligent questions, and send them off. Hope for a response. These people are very busy, but wouldn't it be cool to get a response from a nationally recognized expert? Make sure that your question is not something obvious that you should've easily found out by doing some basic research.