Working Outdoors in Summer – Part 2

OK, so the article on West Nile Virus made you nervous about bugs. One of the joys of working outside in the summer is enjoying the nice weather. But, nice weather often means warm weather. Warmth and humidity, coupled with wearing Personal Protective Equipment, is often a recipe for heat related disorders.

In warm or humid conditions, the body’s ability to cool itself is compromised. Internal body temperature starts to build up, leading to one of two recognizable medical situations:

Heat Exhaustion

In Heat Exhaustion, basically, the victim can still sweat, and therefore, can still cool down their internal body temperature. Signs and symptoms displayed by the victim include:

•   Moist and clammy skin

•   Pale skin appearance

•   Weakness, dizziness and fainting

•   Headache

•   Nausea and vomiting

Victims of heat exhaustion may appear to be fine, then deteriorate rapidly into heat stroke. When heat exhaustion is suspected, do the following:

•   Move the victim to a cool area

•   Help reduce the body temperature by applying damp towels, cold compresses, or water to the face, head and neck.

•   If the victim is fully conscious, have them drink a standard size glass of water every 10-15 minutes until signs of heat stroke have improved. Drinks containing replenishing electrolytes are helpful.

Heat Exhaustion is the first stage towards the life threatening emergency of Heat Stroke.

Heat Stroke

Once the victim had dehydrated themselves, the body’s core temperature will start to rise. Technically, Heat Stroke is a form of Hyperthermia (where the body’s core temperature rises) as opposed to Hypothermia (where the body’s core temperature drops). If left unmanaged, Heat Stroke will rapidly lead to extreme internal body temperatures that cause brain damage, and eventually death. Heat Stroke is a true medical emergency worthy of a call to 9-1-1.

Signs and symptoms of Heat Stroke include:

•   A life threatening rise in the body’s internal temperature

•   Skin that is hot to the touch, often dry and very red.

•   Loss of consciousness or coma, and brain damage that eventually leads to death.

When you suspect Heat Stroke, rapidly do the following:

•   Move the patient to a cool area

•   Monitor and treat the victim’s Airway, Breathing and Circulation

•   Activate the EMS System

•   Rapidly cool the victim by removing their clothes, placing ice packs or cold compresses around the head, in the groin, armpits and neck areas.

•   Administer Oxygen if available

•   Continue aggressively cooling the patient until they begin to shiver, or until the EMS arrives. Rapid cooling will save the life of the victim.

Staying Hydrated the Smart Way

When you are working in warm or humid environments, regardless of whether you are indoors or out, or the time of year, you need to stay hydrated. Remember, Personal Protective Equipment will inhibit your body’s ability to cool itself down, and you could start to develop Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke. Very hot and red, dry skin is not a good thing.

Stay hydrated, preferably with water or electrolyte fluids or sport drinks. On average, you should drink one standard glass of water at least every hour, and more if you are working hard, or working in a warm or humid environment. If your urine is dark yellow or brown, you are not getting enough fluids, and you need to drink more water.

Most Occupational Health & Safety regulations limit the amount of time you can work in hot or humid environments. You may have to get a Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer that takes the effect of humidity into account, and monitor your work conditions.

At the end of the work day, remember that beverages such as beer will actually dehydrate you even more, so slow down and take care. You will experience impairment faster, and suffer from the effects of the alcohol far worse than if you are hydrated.

One more point. Make sure that your water bottle is thoroughly washed and sterilized daily. Microbes can be transferred from your mouth into the water or drink bottle, and can begin to grow over time. Studies have shown that water bottles used on a daily basis can harbor dangerous germs. You should either sterilize your water bottle daily, or use disposable bottles - just make sure to re-cycle them.

Sunburns, Too

And while we’re at it, don’t forget the sunscreen. Sunscreen protects you from UV rays, and should form a basic part of your Personal Protective Equipment if you work outside. In fact a recent OSHA ruling in the United States makes it mandatory for an employer to provide sunscreen to outside workers. Additionally, a sunburn or blister can be considered a reportable occupational incident in many jurisdictions.

UV rays are the ultraviolet radiation of the sun's energy that burn your skin. Ultraviolet -- or UV -- light is the energy at the short end of the electromagnetic spectrum. It's too violet for us to see. Overexposure to UV rays can cause skin cancer and cataracts. It can damage DNA and suppress your immune response.

You can get sunburn all year round. Clouds won't protect you from UV exposure. But sunscreen can help. Sunscreen works two different ways -- sometimes both in combination. Sun blocks either reflect the sunlight off the skin, or absorb the UV rays. Both methods keep the UV rays from getting through to your skin.

That "SPF" rating on the sunscreen label refers to the Sun Protection Factor. The number multiplies the amount of time it takes to burn without protection. SPF 35 will take the sun thirty-five times longer to burn your protected skin than it will if your skin is unprotected.

UV rays can't penetrate thick cloth or treated plastics. Thick fabric or a hat beats sunscreen for sun protection. Don’t forget UV rated safety eyewear. Sunburn in your eyeballs feels similar to arc welder’s burn, and can cause permanent eye damage as well.

Consider taking an Industrial First Aid Course to learn how to deal with these all too common heat related emergencies.

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