Safety Banners: Beating Heat Stress and Proper Hydration

Heat stress can come on quickly and without warning, especially if you don’t know the signs.  Getting familiar with the symptoms can prevent illness, injury and even death. Heat Stress safety banners are an excellent way to communicate the symptoms of heat stress. Some of the major signs that are common for both heat stroke and heat exhaustion are heavy sweating, nausea, and dizziness.  The three most effective ways to combat heat stress if you are working outside is to drink lots of water, taking breaks to rest, and if possible, to work in the shade or stay shaded with Hats, clothing, or proper PPE. SafetyBanners.Org has a complete line of heat stress and summer hydration safety banners that help prevent heat stress in the summer on the job.

The CDC recommends to hydrate before you begin work, and to drink a minimum of 8 ounces of water every fifteen to twenty minutes while working, but no more than 48 ounces per hour (over hydration can cause salt levels in the blood to become dangerously low). Drinking in shorter intervals hydrates you more effectively than drinking large amounts over big time gaps.  Make sure to avoid alcohol which can cause dehydration and over consumption of energy drinks as not to raise your caffeine levels which can cause your heart rate to escalate.  And to hydrate after work as well because it may take several hours for your body to rehydrate.  You can read more about what the CDC recommends about hydration and working in the heat here. Workplace safety banners are an excellent tool to help stop employee heat stress and keep workers on the job and out of the hospital.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/UserFiles/works/pdfs/2017-126.pdf

Take Frequent breaks before you start to feel any symptoms, do not push yourself.  Taking breaks is especially important if you are working in direct sunlight, try to find a shaded area or better yet an indoor airconditioned space that will allow you to relax. 

Heat Stress and Hydration banners on Safety  Banners USA

Stay safe, stay healthy, stay hydrated and watch out for all the symptoms of summer heat stress.

Your friends at SafetyBanners.Org and Safety Banners USA

Memphis, Tennessee