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Athletic Deaths

C cutter1100+ posts
I want to bring up this subject, and not to hurt or offend anyone as the events that have occurred recenyly are truly tragic.

I was curious if anyone has discussed or come across research on what the experts feel is the cause of athelete's deaths during play, practice or training.

Now I have read and understand enlarged hearts - but the event that happened most recently at North Central Junior College and just yesterday with a JV Football player. There are many more ranging from the amatuer athlete to professional; but also if you recall last year a elementary or intermediate age child died due to exertion in the gym.

I am not that old, but I do not recall this occuring when my coaches had me sweating buckets of sweat in practice. Has this always occurred and I am more senstive to it now that I know many players?

What do you feel is the cause of this?
- The increase in obesity in our population
- Our Sedentary lifestyle (TV, Video Games etc)
- Our Diet
- Supplements (illegal)
- Supplements (legal)
- Genetics
- ?

Just recently I read where the s****r federation in some European countries were requiring heart scans and some countries did not want to pay for it (says alot for the owners and ???). They feel there is a direct link to adrenaline from the sporting event affecting the heart -thus resulting in heart problems. They citied one player who went down on the field unconscious, was revived and walked to the locker room only to have 2 heart attacks and die.

As coaches we should look for warning signs, condition our players to be in shape and be open to what ever will help the athlete. Many of you live this every day. I would like to talk about this and perhaps create some dialogue of sharing ideas that may help a player.
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Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
Cutter, I think your list of reasons all have some possible truths. And to go along with your Diet idea, a lot of it is probably a matter of the athletes are not properly hydrated. I don't know how old you are, but could it be that you didn't hear about it before b/c you didn't just get online and find anything you wanted to find?

I'm studying athletic training in college and we just so happened to be discussing hydration and heat illnesses yesterday in class.

Here's what my high school's ATC recommends (would require if truly possible):

-One 20oz bottle of water every hour.
-One 20oz bottle of sports drink (GATORade or POWERade) 2-3 hours before practice or competition
-7-10oz of sports drink 20-25 minutes before practice to competition
-Drinking throughout practice or competition
-Weighing yourself before and after practice. For every pound lost during practice, need 20-24oz of fluid. This should be both sports drink and water.

Your athletes need sodium!! Which a lot of people would be shocked to hear.

I'll try adding more later...
F funneldrill1,000+ posts
I am the head baseball coach at Mansfield Summit. I also help out with the freshman and varsity football team.

Dozie's death was very tragic and very dramatic for everyone in our school family. Right now we are in the prayer and reflection stage of this ordeal. His funeral is Tuesday and we will cancel practices and dismiss school early to try and put some type of closure on this.

Many details reported by the media are false, not to mention sensational. I know the public wants to rush to the "why" stage of this. The "why" will eventually come out. The "why" may not even have an answer, sometimes life works out that way.

Right now we are a family that is hurting and that is closer now, more than ever. Right now, we just need your thoughts and prayers.
H Hintite10+ posts
Funneldrill,
You have been in my thoughts and prayers as well. I have every confidence in your ability to help your student athletes through this emotional time. This is a tough lesson for grownups to learn..."The "why" may not even have an answer, sometimes life works out that way" and it's got to be even harder for teenage boys. I know you'll do all you can to help them through it. My prayer is that you will all continue to grow closer to each other as you deal with this tragedy. I hope that you have the support you need as well. Just know that there is a lot of support from your hsbbweb family if you need it.
ktcosmosktcosmos100+ posts
This is a very tough topic.

Our family was thrown a curve ball this fall when one of our kids was diagnosed with WPW. Wolfe Parkinsons White syndrome. (you'll find various spellings if you Google it.)

This is just one of the possible explanations behind those sudden fatal cardiac arrests which can befall young athletes.

Many people live with WPW without incident their entire life, but, very sadly, some are only diagnosed for the first time when they experience an episode and die from the effects.

As to the "heart scans" Cutter1 mentions in Europe, WPW can be immediately diagnosed via electrocardiogram. Thus, in some countries there are efforts to require them prior to participation.

Unfortunately, the psychological aspect a diagnosis brings can be very depressing.

In the case of WPW, the patient is otherwise healthy and, in fact has a very healthy and fit heart. They just have extra random electrical pathways (congenitally) which can trigger a heart rate that the heart just can't handle. In fact, if an individual is undiagnosed and appears to be having a heart attack, first responders who don't know about the WPW can actually bring about the death of the victim. Now that would just be so terrible to live with!

I feel like it's one of those big secrets in the sports world, now that I know about it. I mean, I haven't met a single person who has even HEARD of it.

I am certainly not an expert, but am happy to answer questions via PM if someone has questions about this condition.
FungoFungoHighly Regarded and Beloved Old Timer
quote:
I would like to talk about this and perhaps create some dialogue of sharing ideas that may help a player.


If we focus too much on prevention and protection we limit our ability to reach our full potential --- Sometimes we sacrifice our bodies during competition. That is the nature of the beast. My son retired from baseball after suffering multiple concussions and post concussion syndrome, broken bones, two operations and a thyroid that quit producing. Preventable? Most were preventable ---- except he loved to play baseball.

Premature death of a teammate or a child is without a doubt the most traumatic event that could happen in athletics. Each athlete needs to be physically able to withstand the rigors of competition, be fit and follow established medical procedures. After they do that they have to leave those "injury and death" thoughts behind and compete.

When my son took the mound against SEC and ACC teams the sometime fatal comebacker off the aluminum bat was not even considered. His goal was to retire the side.

On 9/11 the firemen and policemen climbed the stairs of the twin towers. They ignored the safety of prevention and protection on the ground and sacrificed their lives because they were committed to save lives.

Christa McAuliffe placed herself in peril in quest of being the first teacher in space and paid the ultimate price when Challenger exploded. Every space traveller before her and after her has to approach it the same way.

My oldest son has volunteered will be leaving soon for his second tour in Iraq. Yes he has been issued flak jackets and armament but even with that he will be in harm's way. He would be much safer in the US but then that's not him.

There is only so much we can to do prevent and protect without crossing the line and start restricting and limiting the athlete's ability.
Last edited by Fungo
M Maverick0714500+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Fungo:
quote:
I would like to talk about this and perhaps create some dialogue of sharing ideas that may help a player.


If we focus too much on prevention and protection we limit our ability to reach our full potential --- Sometimes we sacrifice our bodies during competition. That is the nature of the beast. My son retired from baseball after suffering multiple concussions and post concussion syndrome, broken bones, two operations and a thyroid that quit producing. Preventable? Most were preventable ---- except he loved to play baseball.

Premature death of a teammate or a child is without a doubt the most traumatic event that could happen in athletics. Each athlete needs to be physically able to withstand the rigors of competition, be fit and follow established medical procedures. After they do that they have to leave those "injury and death" thoughts behind and compete.

When my son took the mound against SEC and ACC teams the sometime fatal comebacker off the aluminum bat was not even considered. His goal was to retire the side.

On 9/11 the firemen and policemen climbed the stairs of the twin towers. They ignored the safety of prevention and protection on the ground and sacrificed their lives because they were committed to save lives.

Christa McAuliffe placed herself in peril in quest of being the first teacher in space and paid the ultimate price when Challenger exploded. Every space traveller before her and after her has to approach it the same way.

My oldest son has volunteered will be leaving soon for his second tour in Iraq. Yes he has been issued flak jackets and armament but even with that he will be in harm's way. He would be much safer in the US but then that's not him.

There is only so much we can to do prevent and protect without crossing the line and start restricting and limiting the athlete's ability.


Couldn't have said it better myself... I am also grateful to your son and Godspeed on his safe return.

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