Following is the reminder that the NCAA Executive Committee sent in August to NCAA member institutions about risk factors and warning signs associated with heat illness:

Due to a heightened concern about heat-related illness and deaths in the sport of college football, the NCAA reminds member institutions' athletics department personnel and their student-athletes of the risk factors and warning signs associated with heat illness.

The NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook Guideline 2c, "Prevention of Heat Illness," is a primary resource for this information. Handbook guidelines can be found on the NCAA's Web site at www.ncaa.org/
library/sports_sciences/sports_med_handbook/index.html.

Risk factors

Air temperature, humidity and dehydration are common risk factors associated with heat illness. In addition, the following factors also put student-athletes at increased risk:

Nutritional Supplements. Nutritional supplements may contain stimulants, such as ephedrine, ma huang or caffeine. These substances can dehydrate the body and/or increase metabolism and heat production. They are of particular concern in people with underlying medical conditions such as hypertension, asthma and thyroid dysfunction.

Medical conditions. Examples include illness with fever, gastro-intestinal illness or sickle cell trait.

Acclimatization/fitness level. Lack of acclimatization to the heat or poor conditioning.

Clothing. Dark clothing absorbs heat. Protective equipment limits heat dissipation.

For more information, contact your team physician or athletic trainer.

Stimulant drugs such as amphetamines, ecstasy, ephedrine and caffeine are on the NCAA banned-substance list and may be known by other names. A complete list of banned-substance classes can be found on the NCAA Web site at www.ncaa.org/sports_sciences/drugtesting/banned_list.html.