Be Cool!
UE News, August 1997
These are the dog days of summer. Work is hard and the heat makes it that much more
unpleasant.
But we can't let ourselves be made sick by the heat. No matter how much production the
boss wants from us, we just can't produce as much in the high heat of summer as we do in
the spring or in the autumn. If we don't get enough time for rest breaks, if we don't have
adequate supplies of fluids, if we don't get time to adjust our bodies to hot weather
work, we are going to get sick!
Each summer in the U.S., workers die from the effects of heat stress. We have to learn
what to do to prevent heat cramps. And we have to learn the life-and-death differences
between heat exhaustion and heat stroke..
Exhaustion vs. Stroke
Heat exhaustion makes us ill, but with time and rest we will recover. Heat stroke can
come on us quickly and unexpectedly, and can kill within minutes. Almost half of all heat
stroke victims die from this illness.
Let's compare the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. In many ways, knowing
the difference is as important as knowing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) - both can
save lives when minutes count.
SYMPTOMS
The table below shows the various symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
Heat Exhaustion
|
Heat Stroke
|
| Heavy sweating Cool, moist skin
Pale skin
Normal body temperature
Dizziness, nausea |
Little or no sweating Hot, dry skin
Red, blotchy skin
High body temperature (105 F)
Dizziness, nausea, confusion |
These reflect the fact that for heat exhaustion, the body is working very hard and
sweating a lot to meet the heat load - but the body is still able to cope with the heat.
So the skin is moist from sweating and body temperature is normal.
In the case of heat stroke, to put it plainly, the body's thermometer is broken. It
can't cope wit the heat load. The body's sweat organs can't keep up with the heat load or
are overwhelmed by it. So there is little or no perspiration and the skin is dry.
And since the body's temperature regulators are failing, the body's temperature rises
to very high, life-threatening levels - often above 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and sometimes
as high as 110 degrees or more. At these high temperatures, various body organ systems
break down and the person can suffer irreversible brain damage or death.
WHAT TO DO
In the case of:
Heat stroke, two things must be done at once:
One person should immediately call
for competent medical aid, including an ambulance to immediately transport the person to
the hospital.
Meanwhile, other persons should
immediately try to reduce the victim's body temperature. Put the person under cool shower
or in a cool bath. Or else just wet the person down with cold water or wrap in a wet
sheet, and fan vigorously.
Do not try to force fluids down the person's throat. This may choke the victim.
In the case of heat exhaustion, remove the stricken person to a cooler place and help
him or her sit or lie down. Fan vigorously. Don't force the person to drink fluids, but
give fluids on request and encourage the person to slip them slowly. The best fluids to
give are those which contain salts or related electrolyte chemicals, such as apple juice,
orange juice or Gatorade, but water will do. Don't let the person become chilled. Seek
medical attention.
HOT WEATHER HINTS
Wear loose, thin clothing. Tight clothes can
interfere with evaporation of sweat.
If you work outdoors, wear
light-colored rather than dark clothing. This helps cut down absorption of solar
radiation.
Drink plenty of fluids. Don't
depend on your thirst to tell you when to take a drink - the body's thirst mechanism
reacts slowly, so you may need to drink water long before you feel thirsty.
Drink fluids with salts or
electrolytes, not just water. Juices are fine. But don't use salt tablets - such a big
dose of salts can put a strain on the heart.
Insist through your union that you
get more frequent rest breaks.
If assigned to a very hot job, or
if you suddenly become hot, insist that you be given a few days to acclimate to the heat.
