Lack of Heat Rules for High School Sports

It has been a hot summer in Florida and all across the country. While the high temperatures may mean great beach days, they can be deadly for student athletes.

According to a recent CNN article, at least two high school football players and a coach have died in the summer heat. In addition, four high school players in Arkansas were hospitalized for dehydration when temperatures reached a record-breaking 114 degrees earlier this month.

"We think it was the worst week [the first week in August] in the last 35 years in terms of athlete deaths," said Dr. Douglas Casa, chief operating officer of the Korey Stringer Institute of Health Medicine at the University of Connecticut and author of the book "Preventing Sudden Death in Sports and Physical Activity." According to Casa, until parents demand more specific and enforced rules for high school sports, these kinds of tragedies will continue.

There are no nationwide rules in place to protect high school athletes from sudden death due to hot weather. This is unlike the NCAA where guidelines have been in place for eight years, during which only one death was reported.

Casa told CNN that a task force made up of professionals from the top medical organizations in the country came together three years ago and produced a set of guidelines similar to those of the NCAA. Unfortunately, the guidelines are not mandatory and have not been adopted in many high schools.

If your child is a Florida high school athlete, you may want to find out what policies and procedures are in place to prevent heat-related illness. For instance, Casa recommends that all teams have a trainer on the field that can spot and treat heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

In addition, you can find more information about preventing heat-related illness in our recent blog post available here.

The Dellutri Law Group is focused on making bad situations better and putting lives back together. If your child or someone you love has been seriously injured in a Florida heat-related accident on the athletic field, you may be entitled to compensation.

Legal Word of The Month

Congratulations to the winner for August: Ira Gold 

The Word of The Month for September is:

'animus furandi'

Please email the definition of this word to eetnoyer@dellutrilawgroup.com. On September 15th we will pick a winner from all entries with a correct definition. The winner will receive a $20.00 gift card to a local restaurant.

Employee Spotlight

Jeffrey Lampley  

I started working at the  Dellutri Law Group in December of 2008.  Being David's brother I had some experience with the firm but not much.  I'll never forget my first day, I jammed the paper shredder so bad that it took four hours to undo and all I could think about was, great it's my first and last day.  Obviously that was not the case.  Since I've been here I have done everything including shredding papers, record retention, answering phones, and even a little building maintenance.  I can honestly say that Mr. Dellutri is the best boss anyone could ask for.  His dedication and compassion for his clients and staff is nothing short of incredible and it's something that everyone should strive to imitate. If someone were to ask why I like working here so much, the answer is simple, we are a family, everyone looks out for one another, and everyone is willing to help each other so we can serve our clients in the best way possible.

  Fun and Easy Recipe of the Month  

Shrimp, Papaya and Mango Salad

A delicious summer lunch option, this salad is colorful, flavorful, and refreshing. Be sure the mango, papaya and avocado are all nice and ripe. Delicious made with quickly poached shrimp, grilling the shrimp is another good option, and it adds a welcome smokiness to the salad.

This recipe was provided by LaMotta's Italian Restaurant located in Fort Myers Florida. To view this recipe please click here.