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Safety Banners: Heat Stroke and Heat Stress Symptoms and Prevention

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Heat Stroke and Heat Stroke Symptoms are recognizable with some basic heat stroke awareness. Often times heat stroke banners and posters will convey the necessary information to keep workers aware and safe.

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Symptoms of Heat Stroke

The hallmark symptom of heat stroke is a core body temperature above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. But fainting may be the first sign.

Other symptoms may include:

Throbbing headache
Dizziness and light-headedness
Lack of sweating despite the heat
Red, hot, and dry skin
Muscle weakness or cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak
Rapid, shallow breathing
Behavioral changes such as confusion, disorientation, or staggering
Seizures
Unconsciousness

First Aid for Heat Stroke

If you suspect that someone has a heat stroke, immediately call 911 or transport the person to a hospital. Any delay seeking medical help can be fatal.

While waiting for the paramedics to arrive, initiate first aid. Move the person to an air-conditioned environment -- or at least a cool, shady area -- and remove any unnecessary clothing.

If possible, take the person's core body temperature and initiate first aid to cool it to 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. (If no thermometers are available, don't hesitate to initiate first aid.)

Try these cooling strategies:

Fan air over the patient while wetting his or her skin with water from a sponge or garden hose.
Apply ice packs to the patient's armpits, groin, neck, and back. Because these areas are rich with blood vessels close to the skin, cooling them may reduce body temperature.
Immerse the patient in a shower or tub of cool water.
If the person is young and healthy and suffered heat stroke while exercising vigorously -- what’s known as exertional heat stroke -- you can use an ice bath to help cool the body.

Preventing Heat Stroke

When the heat index is high, it's best to stay in an air-conditioned environment. If you must go outdoors, you can prevent heat stroke by taking these steps:

Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat.
Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more.
Drink extra fluids. To prevent dehydration, it's generally recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water, fruit juice, or vegetable juice per day. Because heat-related illness also can result from salt depletion, it may be advisable to substitute an electrolyte-rich sports drink for water during periods of extreme heat and humidity.
Take additional precautions when exercising or working outdoors.The general recommendation is to drink 24 ounces of fluid two hours before exercise, and consider adding another 8 ounces of water or sports drink right before exercise. During exercise, you should consume another 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes, even if you don't feel thirsty.
Reschedule or cancel outdoor activity. If possible, shift your time outdoors to the coolest times of the day, either early morning or after sunset.

Heatstroke is predictable and preventable. Take these steps to prevent heatstroke during hot weather:

Wear loose fitting, lightweight clothing. Wearing excess clothing or clothing that fits tightly won't allow your body to cool properly.
Protect against sunburn. Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself, so protect yourself outdoors with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or sweating.
Drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated will help your body sweat and maintain a normal body temperature.
Take extra precautions with certain medications. Be on the lookout for heat-related problems if you take medications that can affect your body's ability to stay hydrated and dissipate heat.
Never leave anyone in a parked car. This is a common cause of heat-related deaths in children. When parked in the sun, the temperature in your car can rise 20 degrees F (more than 6.7 C) in 10 minutes.
It's not safe to leave a person in a parked car in warm or hot weather, even if the windows are cracked or the car is in shade. When your car is parked, keep it locked to prevent a child from getting inside.
Take it easy during the hottest parts of the day. If you can't avoid strenuous activity in hot weather, drink fluids and rest frequently in a cool spot. Try to schedule exercise or physical labor for cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or evening.
Get acclimated. Limit time spent working or exercising in heat until you're conditioned to it. People who are not used to hot weather are especially susceptible to heat-related illness. It can take several weeks for your body to adjust to hot weather.
Be cautious if you're at increased risk. If you take medications or have a condition that increases your risk of heat-related problems, avoid the heat and act quickly if you notice symptoms of overheating. If you participate in a strenuous sporting event or activity in hot weather, make sure there are medical services available in case of a heat emergency.

SafetyBanners.Org

1657 Shelby Oaks Drive N.

Memphis, TN 38134

Serving American industry since 1995

SafetyBanners for Heat Stress and Heat Stroke Prevention

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Heat stress is a serious problem which can be averted with reasonable heat stress awareness among your workers. Heat stress prevention does take some time and effort, but the results save lives and keep your workers safe.

Workers who are exposed to heat stress and extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Exposure to extreme heat can result in on teh job illnesses and injuries. Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes. Heat, especially extreme heat, can also increase the risk of injuries in workers as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, and dizziness. Burns may also occur as a result of accidental contact with hot surfaces or steam.

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Workers at risk of heat stress include outdoor workers and workers in hot environments such as firefighters, bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, miners, boiler room workers, factory workers, and others. Workers at greater risk of heat stress include those who are 65 years of age or older, are overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure, or take medications that may be affected by extreme heat. Prevention of heat stress in American workers is important. Most employers provide training and heat stress awareness to workers so they understand what heat stress is, how it affects their health and safety, and how it can be prevented.

Protecting Workers from Heat Stress and Heat Illness.

Exposure to heat can cause illness and death. The most serious heat illness is heat stroke. Other heat illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash, should also be avoided. There are precautions your employer should take any time temperatures are high and the job involves physical work.

Risk Factors for Heat Illness

• High temperature and humidity, direct sun exposure, no breeze or wind.

• Low liquid intake

• Heavy physical labor

• Waterproof clothing

• No recent exposure to hot workplaces

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

• Headache, dizziness, or fainting

• Weakness and wet skin

• Irritability or confusion

• Thirst, nausea, or vomiting

Symptoms of Heat Stroke

• May be confused, unable to think clearly, pass out,collapse, or have seizures (fits)

• May stop sweating To Prevent Heat Illness,Your Employer Should

• Establish a complete heat illness prevention program.

• Provide training about the hazards leading to heat stress and how to prevent them.

• Provide a lot of cool water to workers close to the work area. At least one pint of water per hour is needed.

• Modify work schedules and arrange frequent rest periods with water breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas.

• Gradually increase workloads and allow more frequent breaks for workers new to the heat or those that have been away from work to adapt to working in the heat (acclimatization).

• Routinely check workers who are at risk of heat stress due to protective clothing and high temperature.

• Consider protective clothing that provides cooling. How You Can Protect Yourself and Others

• Know signs/symptoms of heat illnesses; monitor yourself; use a buddy system.

• Block out direct sun and other heat sources.

• Drink plenty of fluids. Drink often and BEFORE you are thirsty. Drink water every 15 minutes.

• Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine.

• Wear lightweight, light colored, loose-fitting clothes.

What to Do When a Worker is Ill from the Heat

• Call a supervisor for help. If the supervisor is not available, call 911.

• Have someone stay with the worker until help arrives.

• Move the worker to a cooler/shaded area.

• Remove outer clothing.

• Fan and mist the worker with water; apply ice (ice bags or ice towels).

• Provide cool drinking water, if able to drink.

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1657 Shelby Oaks Drive N.

Memphis, TN 38134

Serving American industry since 1995

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Safety Banners: Heat Stroke and Heat Stroke Symptoms

Symptoms of Heat Stroke

First Aid for Heat Stroke

Preventing Heat Stroke

Safety Banners for Heat Stress and Heat Stroke

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