Reducing sports heat illness risk.

OBJECTIVES: After reading this article, readers should 1. Appreciate that exertional heatstroke is the leading cause of preventable death in youth sports.2. Know the importance of progressive acclimatization to minimize the risk of exertional heat illness in youth sports.3. Be able to identify other contributing risk factors and effective ways to improve exercise-heat tolerance and reduce exertional heat illness risk in youth sports.4. Be prepared to educate others on their roles and responsibilities in improving safety and well-being of youth participating in outdoor sports in the heat.