10/10/2024

HSSE WORLD

Health, Safety, Security and Environment

E-Books:Hot Weather Survival Guide

2 min read

Hot temperatures and summer recreation go hand in hand. Who doesn’t love a warm day at the beach or laying back on the hammock in the shade with a nice cold drink? But if you’re not careful the heat can get the best of you, no matter what activity you’re taking part in. Heat-related illnesses often go unrecognized until it’s too late and the damage is done. We need to understand the dangers that come with being in hot environments and the precautions we need to take. When it comes to dealing with heat-related illnesses, the saying that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is great advice – it’s a lot easier to prevent a heat-related illness than to recover from one.

Each year, more than 600 people die in the United States due to extreme heat, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Between 1999 and 2010, 8,081 heat-related deaths were reported. In 72% of these cases, exposure to excessive heat was cited as the underlying cause of death. For the remaining 28%, the heat was deemed a major contributing factor. Infants and children under four and the elderly (over 65) are most at risk, but adults of working age should still exercise caution. Heat-related deaths occurred most frequently in urban areas (81%). The three states with the highest burden (Arizona, Texas, and California) accounted for 43% of all heat-related deaths.

Survival Guide

We created this guide to keep you and your workers safe while working in hot conditions. In it, you’ll find the information you need to guard against heat-related illnesses. We will cover the main factors that lead to heat-related illnesses and the appropriate precautions you need to take. We designed this guide to be easy to navigate. It provides a quick reference for what you need to know to stay safe while exposed to extreme heat. We suggest you print copies of the guide for your employees. Share this information to prevent heat-related illness – because it sure beats having to recover from it!

CONTENTS

Not Knowing You’re in Trouble …………………………………………………..3

What Do the Numbers Say?………………………………………………………5

Survival Guide……………………………………………………………………………5

Section One:Heat-Related Illness……………………………………………..6

Heat and Humidity ……………………………………………………………………7

Clothing and PPE ………………………………………………………………………8

Physical Exertion ……………………………………………………………………….8

Working Near Heat-Producing Machines and Equipment………….9

Health and Fitness Levels, Hydration, and Nutrition………………….9

Section Two: How the Body Handles Hot Environments……….10

Heat Acclimation……………………………………………………………………. 10

How We Can Help Our Bodies ……………………………………………….. 11

How We Work Against Our Own Bodies ………………………………… 12

Bonus Tip: Help Your Body Along with This Cooling Life Hack… 13

Section Three: Specific Heat-Related Illnesses – What Causes Them and How to Prepare for Them………………..14

Sunburns………………………………………………………………………………… 14

Heat Cramps………………………………………………………………………….. 15

Heat Exhaustion…………………………………………………………………….. 16

Heat Stroke ……………………………………………………………………………. 16

Section Four: Wrap up……………………………………………………………..17

Do:…………………………………………………………………………………………. 17

Don’ts:……………………………………………………………………………………. 17




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