William
J. Becker
University of Florida IFAS Extension
With
so many 90 degree days in May, what will June, July and August
be like? Probably hot and humid, and with it comes heat stress,
one of the serious health and safety problems of agricultural
workers and others who spend hours outdoors. Heat cramps,
heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are the health problems associated
with this situation. But there are safety problems, also.
When we get too hot or too thirsty, we become irritable, frustrated,
impatient and careless. We get in a hurry, our "clear- thinking"
evaporates and accidents happen:accidents that may be more serious,
even, than the heat-induced health problems. Such problems are
more common to individuals who are not conditioned to working
under these conditions. Fortunately, however, the human body
has the ability to adjust to hot weather conditions within a
week or two. What must we do?
The
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
recommends that those not conditioned to strenuous activity
in hot, humid weather limit their exposure to not more than
two hours per day for the first week. This time can then be
gradually increased to half- and then full-time activity during
the next couple of weeks. This allows our body's temperature
control mechanism to adjust.
The
major problem is dehydration, the loss of body fluids caused
by perspiration. Energetic activity on hot days can cause
the body to lose one to one-and-a-half quarts of fluid per
hour. If this continues for a few hours, you can lose two
to as much as six percent of your body weight.
A loss
of only two to three percent of your body weight decreases
blood circulation. This leads to extreme discomfort and thirst,
along with an increase in body temperature and a rapid pulse.
You will undoubtedly be suffering heat cramps; dizziness,
headaches, excessive sweating and a feeling of weakness are
symptoms of heat exhaustion.
If you
lose three to six percent of your weight, you are, or are
near, suffering a heat stroke. This is when the body stops
perspiring, the body temperature increases rapidly, and convulsions,
unconsciousness and death become very real possibilities.
But
none of this needs to happen to you if you recognize the early
symptoms and follow simple precautions. The first precaution
is to avoid dehydration. If you are sweating, drink cool water.
Take a short break every half hour and drink 10 to 12 ounces
of water, even if you are not thirsty. Stay away from alcohol
and salt.
The
second precaution is to wear the proper clothing. Wear lightweight,
light-colored, loose-fitting cotton clothes. And, yes, long-sleeved
shirts and pants. Initially, you may feel cooler in sleeveless
tops and shorts, but under a hot sun and/or on a hot, windy
day your body temperature will increase more rapidly.
Finally,
there are two more ways to "beat the heat" - do the strenuous
work in the cool of the day or in the early morning, or don't
do the work at all! In summary, when it is hot:
- Take
frequent breaks, allow your pulse to return to normal.
- Drink
lots of cool water, 10 to 12 ounces each half hour.
- Wear
cool clothing, light-colored and loose fitting.
- Do
the strenuous work in the cool of the day.
- Know
the symptoms of heat stress, and when the first symptoms
occur move to a cooler location, drink cool water and rest.
Do not "push" yourself to a doctor, hospital or early grave.
When it is hot:play it cool!
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
1.
This document was published 11/91 as Fact Sheet
AE-84
, Florida Cooperative Extension Service. For more information,
contact your county Cooperative Extension Service office.
2. William J. Becker, Professor and Extension Safety Specialist,
Agricultural Engineering Department, Cooperative Extension
Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS),
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
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