Safety Tip: Handling the Heat
Summer has finally arrived, and so have reports of heat related issues. Read on to learn how to best handle these types of situations.
Heat cramps are the first sign of a heat-related issue, and are muscle pains and spasms brought on by heavy exertion. Symptoms: painful muscle spasms, sweaty skin, and normal body temperature. First Aid: sit or lie in a cool area. Drink one-half glass of water every 15 minutes to replenish bodily floods. Also, gently stretch and massage cramped muscles.
Heat exhaustion occurs when working in hot, humid conditions. Sweat does not evaporate quickly enough to cool the body. Generally you see this develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Symptoms: Cool, pale, moist skin; heavy sweating; weakness; headache; nausea; dizziness; and disorientation. First Aid: Seek shade, apply cool wet cloths, lie down, consume one-half glass of water every 15 minutes.
Heat stroke occurs when the body’s temperature control system stops working. Body temperature can rise high enough to cause brain damage and death. Symptoms: Hot, dry, red, or spotted skin; extremely high body temperature; very small pupils; mental confusion; convulsions; and loss of consciousness. First Aid: Get out of the heat and seek medical attention immediately, lie down, apply cool cloths or take a cool bath.
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