STAY COOL – STAY SAFE
by Dr. Isabel Perry,
“The Safety Doctor”
659 words
When the summer weather comes, everyone wants to be outside enjoying
it, especially if they’ve been cooped up all winter. Summer and the heat bring some special safety
considerations: sunburn, heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustions, heat stroke,
and dehydration. No matter where you
live, if it gets hot enough and/or humid enough, you could be affected. Also, everyone has a different tolerance
level and some people are much more sensitive to heat and sun than others.
Illnesses caused by heat:
¨
Sunburns are painful and, given enough
exposure to the sun, can cause skin cancer
¨
Heat rashes, or prickly heat. Bathing regularly and keeping the skin clean and
dry will help prevent these.
¨
Heat cramps can occur when you are
perspiring heavily and not getting enough of the minerals your body needs to
replace those lost in sweat. These
cramps are often in the legs, arms or stomach, and sometimes don’t show up
until after the work is finished. Drink
plenty of fluids, especially water, to avoid becoming dehydrated, and eat a
balanced diet.
¨
Heat exhaustion has numerous symptoms,
including
o Heavy
sweating
o Thirst
o Clammy
and pale skin
o Fatigue
o Weakness
o Loss
of coordination
The person may also be:
o Anxious
o Confused
o Have
a headache, nausea or vomiting
o Loss
of appetite
o Faint
Move the person immediately into a cool area, out of
the sun; encourage him to drink as much water as possible to prevent
dehydration. The individual should do no
work, especially nothing involving moving equipment, until they recover. The individual may need medical attention.
¨
Heat stroke is the body’s inability to
cool itself. Look for:
o No
sweating. The body appears red, hot and
dry.
o Rapid
pulse
o Complaints
of:
§
Dizziness
§
Headaches
§
Nausea
§
Confusion or delirium
§
Possible fainting, seizures or collapse
Actions to take:
§
Immediately call for medical help
§
Move the person to a cool location out of the
sun
§
Immerse them in water – but not ice water
§
DO NOT give them anything to drink as they may
lose consciousness
PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE
Whether at work or play, follow these steps:
¨
Dress for the heat: Light colored, loose
clothing will help keep you cooler. If at work make sure the clothing won’t get
caught in machinery. Wearing light clothing
is cooler than going bare skinned.
¨
Wear a hat: If you are going to be
outside, wear a hat to prevent sunburn
¨
Sunscreen: To protect skin from exposure
to the sun, wear sunscreen and re-apply at regular intervals.
¨
Well balanced meals: Your body needs vitamins
and minerals – make sure that you eat enough fruits and vegetables, plus water
¨
Rest: At any time, not getting enough
rest will put additional stress on the body, but this is more true during the
summer.
¨
Breaks: Take frequent breaks out of the
sun or in a cooler area help reduce heat load on the body
¨
Organize work load: Try to organize work
around cooler morning hours and shaded areas, out of the sun, as much as
possible
¨
Ease into summer: It takes about two
weeks to gradually get used to the heat If
you are away for a period of two weeks, you will have to help your body
readjust.
¨
Walks and exercise: Walking early and late will help conserve
energy
¨
Carry water: If at all possible, keep plenty of water
