Which is not a risk factor for heat illness in athletes?

• A. Dehydration
• B. Poor conditioning
• C. Heavy gear
• D. Adequate fluid intake

Answer: (D)

The key idea is how the body's ability to manage heat is affected during exercise. Dehydration lowers blood volume, reduces sweat rate, and compromises skin blood flow, making it harder to dissipate heat and increasing the risk of heat illness. Poor conditioning means the body isn’t as acclimated to heat, so core temperature rises more quickly during activity. Wearing heavy gear traps heat and adds metabolic heat, plus it restricts heat loss, raising risk as well. Adequate fluid intake, however, helps maintain blood volume and sweating capacity, supports effective cooling, and therefore lowers or eliminates that risk. So the option that is not a risk factor is adequate fluid intake.