229089 Epidemiology of sports-related heat injuries among school-aged children treated in San Diego County emergency departments

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Holly Shipp, MPH , Emergency Medical Services, County of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Alan M. Smith, PhD, MPH , Emergency Medical Services, County of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Leslie Upledger Ray, PhD MPH MPPA MA , Emergency Medical Services, County of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Barbara M. Stepanski, MPH , Emergency Medical Services, County of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Kristin Garrett, MPH , Community Health Improvement Partners, San Diego, CA
C. Beth Sise, JD, RN, MSN , Trauma Department, Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, CA
Julianne M. Cooke, MPH , Emergency Medical Services, County of San Diego, San Diego, CA
Objectives: Heat injuries are dangerous and potentially fatal, especially among children. The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiology of emergency department (ED) treated heat injury sustained during sports and recreational activities among children ages 5-17 years in San Diego County.

Methods: The study population included patients ages 5-17 years treated in a San Diego County ED with a nonfatal heat injury from 2006-2008 (ICD-9-CM codes 992, E900.0, E900.9). Sports-related heat injuries were those identified as occurring in a place for sports and recreation (E849.4). Rates were calculated according to demographic variables and circumstances of the heat injury were described.

Results: There were 92 children treated and discharged from the ED for a heat injury (5.67/100,000 population). Nearly half (43%) were ages 15-17 years (9.9/100,000) and 51% were female. Three-quarters of heat injury ED discharges (76%) occurred during the months of June-September, and one-quarter (23%) occurred on Saturdays. Nearly all (98%) were sent home from the ED for self-care. Thirty-two percent of heat injury ED discharges were sports-related, and among 15-17 year-olds, 50% were sports-related. Of the sports-related heat injuries, 83% occurred during the months of June-September, and 34% occurred on Saturdays.

Conclusions: Heat injury is an important but often overlooked sports injury that can almost always be prevented with proper attention to safety. Additional studies are needed to determine the circumstances of sports-related heat injury in school-aged children so that effective guidelines and prevention messages can be made available to parents and coaches.

Learning Objectives:
Describe the epidemiology of sports-related heat injuries among school aged children treated in emergency departments.

Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am responsible for maintaining the EDDS database used in this study, and an active member of the sports and recreation committees for both Safe Kids San Diego and the Injury Control and Emergency Health Services section of APHA.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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