Who Should Be Especially Careful
  • People just starting a job involving physical work in a hot environment
  • Older people, who become less able to do strenuous physical work in the heat
  • People who are ill, overweight, physically unfit, or on medication that can cause dehydration
  • People who have been drinking alcohol
  • Those who have had a previous heat stress disorder

 

About Heat Stress Disorders

Heat stress disorders range from mild disorders such as fainting, cramps, or prickly heat to more dangerous disorders such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

  • Symptoms of heat stress can include: sweating, clammy skin, fatigue, decreased strength, loss of coordination and muscle control, dizziness, nausea, and irritability.
  • Symptoms of heat stroke may include: hot skin, no sweating, high temperature (104 degrees or more), delirious behavior, loss of consciousness - coma.

In the case of heat stroke, call for medical help immediately 911 !

 

Prevention of Heat Disorders
  • Acclimatize your body to the heat. Gradually increase the time you spend in the heat. Most people acclimatize to warmer temperatures in 7-10 days. Acclimatization is lost when you have been away from the heat for one week or more. When you return, you must repeat the acclimatization process.
  • Drink at least 4-8 ounces of fluid every 20 to 30 minutes to maintain proper balance during hot and/or humid environments.
  • During prolonged heat exposure or heavy workload, a carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage [sports drink] can be very beneficial.
  • Alternate work and rest cycles to prevent an overexposure to heat. Rest cycles should include relocation to a cooler environment.

 

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