Launching Sports Medicine Australia's (SMA's) revised Hot Weather Guidelines, SMA State President Dr John Brotherhood said that sport and exercise should be safe in most summer conditions as long as some basic and commonsense precautions were observed.

The revised Guidelines ('Playing and Exercising Safetly in Hot Weather') are being circulated among schools and sporting organisations in NSW ahead of return to school later this month.

"The revised Guidelines are based on the latest international and Australian research on the sport-in-the-heat issue and are designed to help sporting organisaitons, coaches, teachers and others responsible for conducting in hot weather," Dr Brotherhood said.

"For normally healthy active people, the only dangers from heat illness are likely to arise from high intensity exercise such as endurance running. Most community sport does not reach this level for periods long enough to cause serious harm. Many types of sport, such as cricket and tennis, are usually safe at higher temperatures because of the lower intensity of the play."

The Guidelines make a number of suggestions event organisers can follow to reduce risks associated with hot weather. "One area of higher risk for organisers of community-level sport is in the conduct of marathons, fun runs and bike rides. In these events participants are more likely to push themselves beyond their normal boundaries of activity, and organisers need to take extra precautions.

At any time, even in cool weather exercise that is unusually strenuous for the individual can lead to heat illness. Wheatever your activity always stop or slow down if you feel unwell. Risk of overheating is increased in hot and humid conditions. This is especially the case for people who do not exercise regularly, for those who are overweight, and for those who have pre-existing medical conditions.

The revised Guidelines contain guidance for recognising and treating all conditions of heat illness, such as heat exhaustion and (the more dangerous and potentially fatal) heat stroke, as well as the most effective and beneficial ways to deal with fluid loss.

The Guidelines are available at www.sma.org.au or via email at smanat@sma.org.au.

The Bureau of Meterology website contains information about thermal comfort for most parts of Australia at http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN65179.shtml

(Ref Sports Medicine Australia, 23/1/06)