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June
2009 Safety Tip
HAS
THE ARIZONA SUN AND HEAT GOT YOU STRESSED?
Here
in Maricopa County, a lot of us spend many hours outdoors. Sometimes for
work and sometimes for pleasure. It is important to understand that heat
can be very dangerous.
One
effect of high heat is Heat Stress. Here are somethings you should know
about Heat Stress.
What
it is
Heat
Stress is the inability of the body to cool itself down when its internal
temperature rises above 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
There
are four common forms of heat stress:
- Heat
Fatigue, which occurs when the body is straining under a tough
workload in hot conditions.
- Heat
Cramps, which occur when people continue to work in hot conditions
without resting.
- Heat
Exhaustion and Heat Stroke occur when people lose a significant
amount of body fluids. Heat exhaustion and stroke involve symptoms
consistent with severe confusion, rapid pulse, upset stomach, or fainting.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke represent life threatening
conditions if not dealt with immediately.
According
to the City
of Phoenix Fire Department,
- Hot weather triggers
a variety of medical emergencies, even healthy people should take
it easy
- Those with respiratory
and other health problems must be especially careful.
- Stay out of the
sun as much as possible.
- Drink extra fluids,
but avoid alcoholic beverages which can cause dehydration. The best
ways to prevent a sun stress emergency are to drink before you're
thirsty and drink often.
- Eat a healthy
diet.
- Wear a hat or
cap, keep the neck covered and wear loose fitting clothing.
- If you can, work
in the cool hours of the day or evening.
The
greatest amount of heat loss from the body occurs at the head. This is
why it is important to wear a hat or cap in the sun.
Heat
Stress is the result of the body losing moisture AND electrolytes due
to sweating which results in the build up of excess salt. Sweating is
the body's natural means for keeping cool. Electrolytes are crucial for
the proper functioning of the body. Thus the use of table salt or salt
tablets to replace body electrolytes is no longer recommended. There are
many electrolyte replacement drinks are available on the market.
The
OSHA
Technical Manual (TED 1-0.15A), Section III - Chapter 4 (January 20,
1999, 19 pages) is an excellent place to start if you are unfamiliar with
heat stress. This document contains useful sections on the signs and symptoms
of heat stress, sampling methods, control suggestions, and guidelines
for investigating heat stress in the workplace.
A
web-based PowerPoint presentation for HEAT
STRESS in PDF format, prepared by the International Union of Operating
Engineers and the US Department of Energy's jointly operated "International
Environmental Technology and Training Center" in Beaver, WV, is another
source for information. Although it is designed to address workers involved
in hazardous waste operations, the information in general can be applied
to everyone in an easy-to-read format.
What
you should do
Here
is what you should do if you suspect someone is suffering from Heat Exhaustion:
- Call
for medical help immediately!
- Move
the person out of the heat
- Remove
any protective clothing and loosen restrictive clothing
- Cool
the person down
- Do
not provide any fluids until the person is conscious.
Things
to remember
The
five important things to remember about Heat Stress:
- Heat
Stress can strike at any time
- Heat
Stress illness can range from fatigue to death
- Heat
Stress results when the body’s cooling system cannot keep up with
the body’s rising temperature
- Know
the signs and symptoms of heat stress
- When
heat stress symptoms appear, take immediate corrective actions
For
additional information or a video on Heat Stress contact the Maricopa
County Risk Management Safety Office at (602)
506-8601.
To
view a printable version of this safety tip, click
here
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