Media Releases

04 Feb 2008 - Take the heat out of exercise

A guide for school teachers, children, parents and all sports people on how to play sport and exercise safely in hot weather will be distributed to all Australian schools this month.

PDF printable version of Take the heat out of exercise (PDF 26 KB)

Beat the Heat: Playing and exercising safely in hot weather was launched in Adelaide today by the Australian Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, and the South Australian Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, Michael Wright, to coincide with the start of the school year.

"Our already hot climate is steadily getting hotter due to climate change, with several heat records set in the past few years," Ms Ellis said.

"That doesn't mean we have to give up our sport or our exercise, but to play and exercise safely in hot weather we have to understand the dangers of heat stress and how to react."

The Federal Government provided funding to Sports Medicine Australia to update the brochure to reflect the latest research on heat injuries as part of the National Smartplay program. Copies will be sent to physical education teachers in every school, as well as to sporting organisations, sports stores, pharmacies and health professionals.

Ms Ellis said the brochure was relevant to everyone involved with sport and exercise, though children as well as people who were older, overweight or unwell, were also at risk.

"Heat illness can be very serious. While most people recover quickly from heat illness, if the condition remains untreated it can lead to heat stroke and even death," Ms Ellis said.

"Beat the Heat suggests that you stop or slow down if you feel unwell while exercising, especially in hot weather.

"Children sweat less and get less evaporative cooling than adults, and should always be allowed to exercise at their preferred level. They should never be urged to exercise harder or forced to play strenuous sport in hot conditions."

Mr Wright said hot weather could be particularly dangerous for children, who have less capacity than adults to cope with sustained exercise in hot weather.

"The start of the school year - traditionally a time of hot weather - is an appropriate time to pay attention to the safety of children playing sport," Mr Wright said.

"Children are very good at 'listening to their bodies' and will stop activity very quickly if feeling unwell in the heat. Sports organisers should never force children to continue exercising if they complain of feeling unwell."

Ms Ellis said tips to reduce heat stress included wearing loose, lightweight clothing; sponging with water; drinking two cups of water in the two hours before exercise; and scheduling events to avoid the hottest part of the day.

"Most of the advice in the updated Beat the Heat fact sheet involves simple rules of common sense and following this advice should enable Australians of all ages to enjoy the exercise they want and need," she said.

The Beat the Heat factsheet draws on research recently published in a special edition of the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, devoted exclusively to exercise in hot weather.

It is available at www.sma.org.au or by contacting Sports Medicine Australia.