Heat-related illness-prevention, symptoms, first aid

1. BEAT THE HEAT
Stay Cool. Stay Hydrated. Stay
Informed.
Douglas Marshall, CIH
Teresa Long, GSP
June 23, 2020

2. More than 600 people in the United States are
killed by extreme heat every year
• Heat-related deaths and illnesses are preventable and none
need be fatal
• Know the symptoms
• Know what to do if you or a coworker show signs of having a
heat-related illness
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3. Working outdoors or in hot environments increases
the risk of becoming dehydrated and getting a
heat-related illness
• As temperatures and humidity
increase, the risk of heat-related
illnesses increases
• Frequency and length of rest
periods and water intake should
increase
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4. Working outdoors or in hot environments increases
the risk of becoming dehydrated and getting a
heat-related illness
WARNING!
If you feel faint or weak, STOP all
activity and get to a cool place
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5. • Heat Stroke
• Heat Exhaustion
• Heat Cramps
• Heat Rash
Heat Related Illnesses
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6. Heat Related Illnesses
Heat Stroke
• The most serious form of heat-
related illness
• Occurs when the body becomes
unable to regulate its core
temperature (>103F)
• Sweating stops and the body can
no longer rid itself of excess heat
Heat stroke is a medical emergency that
may result in death! Call 911 immediately!
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7. Heat Related Illnesses
Heat Stroke
Symptoms
• Confusion
• Fainting
• Seizures
• Excessive sweating or red, hot, dry skin
• Very high body temperature
Heat stroke is a medical emergency that
may result in death! Call 911 immediately!
First Aid
• While waiting for help:
• Place victim in shady, cool area
• Loosen clothing, remove outer clothing
• Fan air on worker; cold packs in armpits
• Wet victim with cool water; apply ice
packs, cool compresses, or ice if available
• Provide fluids (preferably water) as soon
as possible
• Stay with victim until help arrives
• If unresponsive and breathing, roll victim
to left side (recovery position)
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8. Heat Related Illnesses
Heat Exhaustion
• The body's response to loss of water and salt from heavy
sweating
• When the body is dehydrated, it lacks water and essential
salts called electrolytes, which reduces its ability to sweat
• If a person is unable to cool down by sweating, they may
experience heat exhaustion
• Causes a rise in body temperature
• Heat exhaustion is distinguished from heatstroke because a
person’s internal body temperature does not go above 103°F
If left untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke
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9. Heat Related Illnesses
Heat Exhaustion
Symptoms
• Cool, moist skin
• Heavy sweating
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or light headedness
• Weakness
• Thirst
• Irritability
• Fast heart beat
First Aid
• Sit or lie down in a cool, shady area
• Drink plenty of water or other
cool beverages
• Cool off with cold compresses/ice
packs
• Seek medical evaluation at a
clinic or emergency room if signs or
symptoms worsen or do not improve
within 60 minutes
• Do not return to work that day
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10. Heat Related Illnesses
Heat Cramps
• Caused by the loss of body salts
and fluid during sweating
• Low salt levels in muscles cause
painful cramps
• Tired muscles—those used for
performing the work—are usually
the ones most affected by cramps
• Cramps may occur during or after
working hours
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11. Heat Related Illnesses
Heat Cramps
Symptoms
• Muscle spasms
• Pain
• Usually in abdomen, arms, or
legs
First Aid
• Rest in a shady, cool area
• Drink water or other cool
beverages
• Wait a few hours before
returning to strenuous work
• Seek medical attention if
cramps don't go away
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12. Heat Related Illnesses
Heat Rash
• Also known as prickly heat
• Skin irritation caused by sweat
that does not evaporate from
the skin
• Heat rash is the most common
problem in hot work
environments
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13. Heat Related Illnesses
Heat Rash
Symptoms
• Clusters of red bumps on skin
• Often appears on neck, upper
chest, folds of skin
First Aid
• Try to work in a cooler, less
humid environment when
possible
• Keep the affected area dry
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14. Heat Related Illnesses and First Aid
• If you are not a medical
professional, use this
information as a guide
• Seek medical care
immediately if you or a co-
worker have symptoms of
heat-related illness
• Heat stroke is a medical
emergency that may result in
death! Call 911 immediately!
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15. Heat Related Illnesses
 Use of personal protective equipment
 Certain types of respirators and impermeable
clothing
 People with a chronic medical condition
are less likely to sense and respond to
changes in temperature
 Medications can worsen the impact of
extreme heat
 Poor physical condition
Risk Factors
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16. Heat Related Illnesses
 Body mass index (BMI) > 26
 Age > 40
 Gender (female)
 Minor illness
 Alcohol in the past 24 hours
 Prior heat injury
 Skin rash, sunburn, or poison ivy
 Blood donation (< 3 days)
 Sleep deprivation
Risk Factors
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17. Heat Related Illnesses
Heat can also increase the risk of
other injuries
• Sweaty palms, fogged-up safety
glasses, and dizziness may cause
cuts, falls, etc.
• Accidental contact with hot
surfaces or steam may cause burns
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18. Heat Related Illnesses
These illnesses and deaths are preventable
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19. Stay Cool
What is the heat index?
• What the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity
is combined with the air temperature
• When the body gets too hot, it begins to perspire or sweat to cool itself off
• When perspiration is evaporated off the body, it effectively reduces the body's
temperature
• If the perspiration is not able to evaporate, the body cannot regulate its temperature
Higher Humidity + Higher Temperature = Greater Risk
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20. Stay Cool Heat Index
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21. Stay Cool
Heat Index
• Heat index values were
devised for shady, light wind
conditions
• Exposure to full sunshine
can increase heat index
values by up to 15°F
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22. Stay Cool
• Rest means minimal physical
activity accomplished in shade
or a cool place
• Rest breaks help your body
recover
• Resting often in the shade or in
air-conditioning helps you cool
down
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23. Stay Cool
• Wear loose, light-colored cotton
clothing if possible
• Wear a hat
• Wear sunscreen to prevent
sunburn
• Sunscreens that say “broad
spectrum” or “UVA/UVB
protection” work best
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24. Stay Cool
• Pace Yourself
• Limit exertion and sun exposure during the hottest part
of the day
• Schedule heavy outdoor activity when it’s coolest
• If exertion makes your heart pound and leaves you
gasping for breath, STOP all activity
• Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest
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25. Stay Hydrated
• Drink more water than usual
• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to
drink
• A good rule of thumb is to drink 4
cups of water every hour
• Drink a small amount of water
every 15 minutes
• You should generally not drink
more than 12 quarts (48 cups) of
water in a 24 hour period
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26. Stay Hydrated
• Avoid sugary, caffeinated, or
alcoholic drinks
• Avoid very cold drinks, they
can cause stomach cramps
• Avoid hot and/or heavy
meals
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27. Stay Hydrated
• Heavy sweating can remove salt
and minerals from your body
• Talk to your doctor:
• About how to safely replace salt
and minerals lost through
sweating
• If your medications affect how
much you should drink during hot
weather
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28. Stay Informed
• Check your local news for extreme heat alerts
and safety tips
• Know where you are working in case you need to
call 911
• Use a Buddy System: monitor the condition of
your co-workers and have someone do the same
for you
• Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become
confused or lose consciousness
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29. Stay Informed
OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool
Features:
• A visual indicator of the current heat index and associated risk levels specific
to your current geographical location
• Precautionary recommendations specific to heat index-associated risk levels
• An interactive, hourly forecast of heat index values, risk level, and
recommendations for planning outdoor work activities in advance
• Editable location, temperature, and humidity controls for calculation of
variable conditions
• Signs and symptoms and first aid information for heat-related illnesses
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatapp.html
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30. Stay Informed
OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool
• Heat Index – If your location services is enabled, the temperature and humidity
data will automatically download and the current heat index will be displayed.
Beneath the calculated heat index is the associated “Precautions” button for the
risk level. By clicking on “Precautions”, you will arrive on a screen with risk level-
specific recommendations.
• Hourly Heat Index Forecast – If you are interested in planning your work activities
for the entire shift around the heat index, there is an hourly feature that will allow
you to scroll through and determine the hottest hours of the day along with the
corresponding risk level and precautions.
• Symptoms and First Aid – At the bottom of your app screen you will always have
easy access to heat-related illness symptoms and first aid.
• More – The “More Tips” provides information about being prepared for
emergencies, training, acclimatization, hydration, monitoring workers for heat-
related illness, and breaks. There is also a list of risk factors associated with heat-
related illnesses.
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31. Stay Cool. Stay Hydrated. Stay
Informed.
None need be fatal.
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teresa.long60@gmail.com
marshall.doug11@gmail.com
https://www.ohssolutions.org/