University of California, Davis
It
was nine o'clock; he had been working for three hours already.
He complained of a headache. After working for another hour,
he and the rest of his crew took a bus to another field. On
the bus, he began to pant and felt nauseated. The foreman
called the emergency medical service (EMS). The emergency
personnel immediately administered first aid upon arrival
at the scene. The worker was taken to the hospital, but died
36 hours later.
My friends,
this is a true incident about a farmworker who suffered from
heat stroke while picking cantaloupes. The story was taken
from the May 1992 records of the NURSE project of the California
Occupational Health Program. It is especially relevant for
us to discuss this topic since we still have several weeks
of hot weather ahead.
Heat
stroke is the most serious of the illnesses caused by overheating.
It is a life-threatening condition, and must be treated as an
emergency. Symptoms include dry, hot, red or spotted skin. The
victim becomes extremely weak and may lose consciousness, but
with rapid and strong pulse. If not treated immediately, this
can lead to convulsions, brain damage and even death.
In
case a co-worker of yours has a heat stroke, do the following
without delay:
- Put
the person in a cool or shady area, and fan to promote cooling.
- Remove
the victim's clothing and sponge the skin with cool water.
- Call
an ambulance immediately.
Overweight
and elderly persons, alcoholics and drug users, small children,
diabetics, hypertensives, and people taking special medication
are most prone to heat stroke. They should especially take precautions
when working in hot, humid environments such as in the field
or in hot, confined spaces with poor ventilation. Heat stroke
can be largely avoided by following basic health and safety
practices. These steps will also help prevent less severe heat
stress problems.
Have
enough sleep every night. The body needs adequate rest, and
this is especially true for farmworkers and others who do
manual labor.
Eat
a good breakfast before going to work. Like a car, our bodies
need fuel to properly function.
Dress
appropriately for the warm weather. A long sleeved shirt,
long pants and wide brimmed hat give the best protection from
the sun. Clothes made of cotton are cool and allow air to
circulate on the skin surface.
Drink
plenty of water during the day. Most heat disorders are caused
by dehydration. Our bodies lose water from sweating, and the
water lost must be constantly replaced. Your employer is required
by law to provide adequate water supply in the field, and
you should be allowed "reasonable opportunities" during the
day to drink. It is best to carry a water bottle with you.
Do not drink beer or other alcoholic beverages; the alcohol
dehydrates rather than rehydrate your body. Besides, drinking (alcohol) while working is not safe.
Take
breaks to cool off, and rest. This will extend your energy.
If you
feel dizzy, weak, or overheated, stop working and go to a
cool place. Sit or lay down, drink water, and wash your face
with cool water. If you don't feel better soon, notify your
crew boss or supervisor so you can be properly treated.
We can
always find excuses for failing to take all of these preventive
measures. I went to a friend's birthday party last night and
did not get home until two o'clock in the morning so I didn't
get much sleep... I was already late for work, so there was
no time to have breakfast... I lose time and money by taking
breaks, or going to get a drink... But remember, it is as
much your responsibility to protect yourself as it is your
employer's. Everyone should be aware of the conditions that
cause heat stress and do what is necessary to prevent it,
and know how to deal with its symptoms.
As farmworkers,
we are very much like professional athletes. We need strong,
healthy bodies to work, and we should keep them in top shape.
Take good care of yourselves, and until next week!
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
radio public service announcement was produced by the Agricultural
Health and Safety Center, Applied Behavioral Sciences of the
University of California at Davis. For further information contact
Jenny Rodriguez, UCCE, Ag. Bldg., County Civic Center, Visalia,
CA 93291-4584, (209) 733-6491.
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