A new plan to protect athletes from heat-related health risks has been developed by the German Federal Ministry of Health and the German Olympic Sports Federation. The plan, which has been reported by the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, recommends, among other things, the avoidance of alcohol and grilling at summer events.
The goal is to better protect all actors and spectators in the broad sports sector from heat-related health risks, the plan states. “Whoever engages in sports must be cautious when temperatures rise again” said Health Minister Nina Warken to the NOZ.
The new measures catalog, which can be used by clubs and associations to prepare for heatwaves, lists numerous recommendations. These include the establishment of criteria for the cancellation or suspension of games and competitions at high temperatures, the provision of shaded areas, of buckets or watering cans with cool water, as well as of free sunscreen and sunglasses for children.
The plan also advises the complete closure of heat-exposed sports facilities during heatwaves, the exclusion of sick athletes from training or competition and the implementation of “joint pulse controls” during training to prevent heat-related overexertion. Furthermore, the extension of summer breaks and the shortening of winter breaks are encouraged, as well as the relocation of competitions, tournaments and high points of the season to cooler months or the relocation of start times to the morning or evening hours.
Additional concrete recommendations of the heat protection plan include the avoidance of the sale of high-alcohol, high-sugar and high-caffeine beverages at events in the summer and the avoidance of open fires or grilling at the provision of food and drink.
According to the World Health Organization, athletes are among the “most affected risk groups for climate-related health risks.” Health Minister Warken told the NOZ, “Every year, pre-existing conditions, older people, but also athletes or people who work outdoors, die when the temperatures break records. We must adapt to this.”
The model heat protection plan for organized sports is one of several initiatives the health ministry is taking to prepare for heatwaves. These also include plans for pharmacies and psychotherapeutic practices, as well as concepts for protecting special risk groups. Furthermore, a crisis exercise is being prepared in collaboration with other federal ministries and the states, the ministry announced.