Post Coronavirus Lock-Down Heat Safety
As we enter Memorial Day Weekend, through much of the nation, temperatures are warming up and states are loosening up restrictions from the lock-downs. People are going to want to be outside in the beautiful warm weather. It’s the unofficial beginning of summer! It’s also National Heat Safety Awareness Day today.
Before you go rushing and frolicking outside to enjoy your renewed freedom and the beautiful weather, it’s a good idea to remind yourself, your family, and your coworkers about how to stay safe in warm weather.
Heat Safety Precautions
When the weather warms up, and especially during extreme heat, make every effort to keep cool and well hydrated. When you’re inside, air conditioners and fans should be used. Water and “sports drinks” are best for hydration, but regardless of what you choose to drink, it is important to stay hydrated. You should drink even if you don’t feel thirsty. It can be helpful to eat smaller meals, and eat more often. If you do not have air conditioning and your home gets too hot go somewhere else you can cool down such as the library, mall, or theatre.
As much as possible, stay inside, and take it easy. Sunscreen should be applied when going outside. Clothing should be loose fitting, lightweight, and light-colored. Never leave people or pets in a car with the windows up.
If you have outside activities to do, postpone them if possible. If you cannot postpone them, take frequent breaks and use the buddy system. You and your buddy are responsible for each other’s health and safety so keep an eye on each other and how you’re doing in the heat. This is especially important for those who work outside!
Heat-Related Illnesses
It’s important to know the different heat-related illnesses, their signs, and how to respond to them. Heat cramps are muscle pains, spasms, or cramps, usually in the stomach, arms, or legs. If someone is experiencing heat cramps, you should get them to a cooler location. Help them cool by removing extra clothing, slowly hydrating with a sports drink, fruit juice, milk, or water, and cool them by applying cool, wet cloths, fanning them, or spraying them with cool water. Seek medical help for cramps lasting more than an hour.
Heat exhaustion can be recognised by heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, or fainting. Someone experiencing heat exhaustion may experience some symptoms, but not others. Each person may experience heat exhaustion differently. For someone experiencing heat exhaustion, have them go to a cooler location, preferably somewhere air conditioned and lie down. Loosen or remove their clothing, fan them, spray them with cold water, apply cool, wet cloths, or even have them take a cool bath. Have the person slowly rehydrate, preferably with sips of cool sports drinks, fruit juice, milk, or water. Seek medical help if their condition worsens or lasts more than an hour.
Heat stroke presents as an extremely high body temperature (above 103º F) and red, hot skin. The person’s skin may be dry or moist. They may also experience a rapid, strong pulse; dizziness; confusion; shallow breathing; vomiting; seizures; or unconsciousness. Heat stroke can be fatal, so if someone is experiencing heat stroke you should call 9-1-1 or immediately take them to a hospital. While waiting for emergency responders, do whatever you can to cool them. Good ways to cool them quickly are to immerse them up to the neck in cold water, douse them or spray them with cold water, place bags of ice on them with a dry cloth in between, or to cover or sponge them with cold, wet towels.
The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool
OSHA (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration) and NIOSH (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) have developed an app for keeping track of the heat index and the risks associated with it. While this can was designed for use in an employment setting, it can be helpful when you’re doing other tasks like gardening, or even just when you have kids playing outside. You can get more information about the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool HERE.
Being outside enjoying the sun, the breeze, friends, and family can be a fabulously fun thing to do in the spring and summer. As with anything though, it’s important to be prepared and remember heat safety before you get too hot.
Garrett Leeds is the founder of the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness Project
If you would like to support the Life, Liberty, And Pursuit Of Happiness Project, please consider contributing to LLPHP via GoFundMe
