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Aug 27 9:00 PM

What to do if an athlete might have heat stroke

For many young athletes, football practices are in full swing around the country. During the last few seasons, parents have been worried about concussions, which have received the lion's share of media attention as far as sports injuries go. But as temperatures remain high, there is another danger for children who play sports.

On America Tonight, correspondent Lori Jane Gliha shares the story of Forest Jones, a 16-year-old Ga. boy who died after a week of football practices in the heat.

Only 11 states have instituted official guidelines to prevent heat stroke, which is the third leading cause of sudden death among athletes and a major concern for high school football players and their parents.

If you have a young athlete in your life, the University of Connecticut’s Korey Stringer Institute -- named after an NFL lineman who died of exertional heat stroke in 2001 -- advises you to follow the advice in the graphic above if you suspect he or she might be suffering from heat stroke. The institute's Rebecca Stearns recommended having the right equipment for treating heat stroke and using it quickly.

“With heat stroke we know if somebody gets in a cold-water immersion tub and is cooled down to 102 [degrees body temperature] within 10 minutes, we’ve had a 100 percent survival rate," she said. "So the chances of survival are good. We just have to make sure everything is there and ready on site to treat those cases."

Learn more about Forest Jones and how his family and friends are coping after his death in the slideshow below:

Despite his tenacity on the field and hard work in the gym, Forest Jones never had the chance to play in a high school football game. He practiced with the Locust Grove High School Wildcats during the summer of 2011, but he collapsed after a practice. He spent eight days in the hospital before he died. Doctors determined he suffered from complications of heat stroke. “He was a great person,” said his dad Glenn Jones. “Oh my God, he was special.”
Despite his tenacity on the field and hard work in the gym, Forest Jones never had the chance to play in a high school football game. He practiced with the Locust Grove High School Wildcats during the summer of 2011, but he collapsed after a practice. He spent eight days in the hospital before he died. Doctors determined he suffered from complications of heat stroke. “He was a great person,” said his dad Glenn Jones. “Oh my God, he was special.”
“Everybody loved Forest,” Glenn Jones said. “If you met him you’d love him.” Tears still well up in his eyes when he visits the field where Forest had hoped to play football. Glenn Jones now watches the Wildcats’ games from the edge of the field beneath a pair of painted angel wings created in honor of Forest. “I love you man,” he said, as he rubbed the wings. “I miss you.”
“Everybody loved Forest,” Glenn Jones said. “If you met him you’d love him.” Tears still well up in his eyes when he visits the field where Forest had hoped to play football. Glenn Jones now watches the Wildcats’ games from the edge of the field beneath a pair of painted angel wings created in honor of Forest. “I love you man,” he said, as he rubbed the wings. “I miss you.”
After a weeklong football camp under the hot Tennessee sun, Forest died after a volunteer practice at his high school near Atlanta. Glenn Jones wonders whether Forest had already been suffering the effects of heat-related illness when he returned from camp. “That kid’s urine was real dark,” he said. Forest collapsed after a low-impact practice on an overcast day, his coach said. “They said he poured water over his head…and then he collapsed,” Glenn Jones said.
After a weeklong football camp under the hot Tennessee sun, Forest died after a volunteer practice at his high school near Atlanta. Glenn Jones wonders whether Forest had already been suffering the effects of heat-related illness when he returned from camp. “That kid’s urine was real dark,” he said. Forest collapsed after a low-impact practice on an overcast day, his coach said. “They said he poured water over his head…and then he collapsed,” Glenn Jones said.
Locust Grove football players touch the angel wings at the edge of the football field before many of their games. “I can feel a little piece of Forest here. It’s like I’m touching Forest to give him a high five,” said teammate Garrett Wallace. Troy Askew, another teammate, remembered Forest’s drive to improve even though he wasn’t the best player. “In the end of the day, we’re still best friends and brothers, and I just hate to lose people like that.”
Locust Grove football players touch the angel wings at the edge of the football field before many of their games. “I can feel a little piece of Forest here. It’s like I’m touching Forest to give him a high five,” said teammate Garrett Wallace. Troy Askew, another teammate, remembered Forest’s drive to improve even though he wasn’t the best player. “In the end of the day, we’re still best friends and brothers, and I just hate to lose people like that.”
Forest Jones was known for carrying a giant jug of water during practice. His coaches had recommended it, and he took the idea very seriously. When Forest died, his teammates turned an empty jug of water into a tribute to Forest. “The jug is for the kid that works hard and is coachable,” said Coach Craig Melton. Each week, a new athlete wins the honor of carrying the jug and becoming a special team captain during the game.
Forest Jones was known for carrying a giant jug of water during practice. His coaches had recommended it, and he took the idea very seriously. When Forest died, his teammates turned an empty jug of water into a tribute to Forest. “The jug is for the kid that works hard and is coachable,” said Coach Craig Melton. Each week, a new athlete wins the honor of carrying the jug and becoming a special team captain during the game.
“We were in need of …a tradition to call our own,” said Coach Craig Melton. “I wanted a way to remember Forest.” Every week, the student athlete who wins the jug puts a sentimental message or trinket inside in honor of Forest, and no one ever looks inside the jug. On game day, the athletes put the jug somewhere on the field, said Melton. “It is just all a constant reminder that it’s great to win, but there’s life. There’s life, and there’s a lot more to it than what we do here on Friday nights.”
“We were in need of …a tradition to call our own,” said Coach Craig Melton. “I wanted a way to remember Forest.” Every week, the student athlete who wins the jug puts a sentimental message or trinket inside in honor of Forest, and no one ever looks inside the jug. On game day, the athletes put the jug somewhere on the field, said Melton. “It is just all a constant reminder that it’s great to win, but there’s life. There’s life, and there’s a lot more to it than what we do here on Friday nights.”

Slideshow reporting by Lori Jane Gliha and Nicole Grether; editing by Dave Gustafson

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