A warning to parents and coaches as high school football practice gets underway.
According to the National Institute of Health, exertional heat stroke is the leading cause of sudden death in high school football players.
Experts believe football players are more vulnerable because of the heavy equipment they wear.
Just last month, a high school football player in Tennessee died after suffering complications from a heatstroke during practice, according to his family.
Mary Barron is an associate professor of exercise and nutrition sciences at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and is a certified athletic trainer. She can discuss the dangers of playing sports in the heat, the dangers of an exertional heat stroke, heat-related symptoms to look for and steps for coaches, players and parents to take.
If you would like to schedule an interview with Mary Barron, please contact Katelyn Deckelbaum, katelyn [dot] deckelbaum
gwu [dot] edu (katelyn[dot]deckelbaum[at]gwu[dot]edu).
-GW-