Safety – Preventing Heat Illness

Going into these hot summer months, it is very important to know the effects the heat can have on your body, especially when combined with physical labor.

Taking precautions to prevent and recognize heat illness is crucial to ensuring you do not fall victim to any form.

Tips to Avoid Heat Illness

• Wear loose, light colored clothing
• Take short breaks, preferably in the shade
• Avoid overexerting yourself during peak temperatures
• Drink lots of fluids throughout the day

Recognize Symptoms

• Heat cramps – severe muscle spasms in the back, stomach, arms & legs
• Heat exhaustion – heavy sweating, nausea, headache, weakness
• Heat stroke – high body temperature, sweating stops, rapid breathing

Providing Treatment

• Heat cramps – move to a cooler area and drink water (6 oz. every 15 minutes)
• Heat exhaustion – move to cooler area, lay down and keep legs elevated, use fan or apply cool towels to body, if conscious, drink water (6 oz. every 15 minutes)
• Heat stroke – call an ambulance immediately, move to cooler area and apply cool towels to body, do not consume any liquids. Heat stroke is life-threatening so it is important to act quickly!

Also remember the risk of these illnesses can increase with other factors such as age, weight or liquid intake. Check the forecast to make sure you are adequately prepared with the correct clothing and beverages.

With June being National Safety Month, now is the perfect time to incorporate these safety tips into your daily activities.

This blog post is for general information purposes only and is not intended as medical or legal advice. Reference: Rue Insurance, Safety Matters. June 2014