| For a lot of people, summertime may mean sunny, | | | | stroke. |
| comfortable days ideal for long walks, picnics, and | | | | In the majority of cases, heat stress may be |
| beaches. However, for some people it may mean | | | | prevented, or at least, reducing the risk of developing |
| working outside on projects under the heat of the | | | | heat stress. An effective heat stress management |
| sun, with no proper cooling systems. Hot working | | | | provides assistance on how to recognize heat stress |
| conditions may pose particular hazards to health and | | | | and prevent them. Here are some simple ways of |
| safety that is why it is important to be guided of the | | | | proper heat stress management to prevent heat |
| various injuries and illnesses linked with heat stress, | | | | stress: |
| and the proper heat stress management. | | | | Clothing |
| There are four environmental factors that affect the | | | | Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that permits |
| extent of stress that a worker may face under a | | | | sweat to evaporate light colored clothing absorbs |
| hot working area: humidity, temperature, wind speed, | | | | lesser heat than dark colors. If working outdoors, |
| and radiant heat like that coming from a furnace or | | | | wearing a lightweight cap with good brim, will keep |
| the sun. People who have high blood pressure and | | | | off the sun from the face and head. |
| those who take a diuretics (water pills) are likely to | | | | Drinking |
| be more responsive to heat exposure. | | | | Drinking a lot of fluids, particularly when the color of |
| The body protects itself from heat by three | | | | one's urine is dark yellow, will replace the lost body |
| mechanisms: sweating, altering the flow of blood, and | | | | fluids from sweating one quart every hour might be |
| breathing. The body's first response is circulating | | | | necessary. Sports drink or water is suggested; avoid |
| blood to the skin, increasing skin temperature and | | | | beverages like iced tea, coffee, and cola as caffeine |
| allowing it to give off some heat. In heavy work, | | | | is a diuretic that makes one urinate more. |
| one's muscles require more blood flow thus reducing | | | | Work schedule |
| the amount of blood available for the skin to release | | | | If possible, schedule heavy work during cooler times |
| heat. | | | | of the day. If not, rotate heavy work in heat with |
| Sweating is another way that helps one's body to | | | | lighter work in areas that are cooler. Minimizing the |
| cool off; however, only when levels of humidity are | | | | hours spent in extreme heat when doing heavy work |
| low enough to permit sweat to evaporate, as well as | | | | will lessen the possibilities of heat stress. |
| if salts and water lost through sweating is replaced. If | | | | Heat stress management if effectively practiced |
| the body overheats, heat stress condition occurs, | | | | reduces, prevents, or eliminates the harmful effects |
| and can lead to several problems including heat | | | | of heat stroke. |
| cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion, fainting, or heat | | | | |