By Rick Halford, Regional Director

As we all well know, every season has its hazards. As we move through our summertime work, we look forward to not worrying about snow and ice affecting our safety and productivity. Even though we enjoy sunshine and good travel conditions, summer has its hazards too. Heat can be very dangerous this time of year. Many workers each year are affected by one or more heat related illnesses.

What are heat related illnesses?

Prolonged or intense exposure to hot temperatures can cause heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat stroke (also known as sun stroke). As your body works to cool itself under extreme or prolonged heat, blood rushes to the surface of your skin. As a result, less blood reaches your brain, muscles, and other organs. This can interfere with both your physical strength and your mental capacity, leading, in some cases, to serious danger. With prompt treatment, most people recover completely from heat-related illness. However, heat stroke can be deadly if not properly managed.

By reducing excessive exposure to high temperatures and taking other precautionary steps, most heat-related illnesses can be avoided. Those who work in hot or humid environments, such as manufacturing plants, bakeries, or construction sites during summer months are the ones who are most at risk. However, even long, hot afternoons at the beach can pose problems if warning signs are ignored.

What causes heat related illnesses?

Heat related illness can strike anyone, but chronic alcoholics, the elderly, the young, the obese, and individuals whose immune systems may be compromised are at greater risk, as are individuals taking certain drugs, such as antihistamines, antipsychotic medications, and cocaine. High humidity also increases the risk of heat illness because it interferes with the evaporation of sweat, which is your body's way of cooling itself. Heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat stroke all occur when your body cannot cool itself adequately. But each is slightly different.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses large amounts of water and salt through excessive sweating, particularly through hard physical labor or exercise. This loss of essential fluids can disturb circulation and interfere with brain function. Individuals who have heart, lung, or kidney problems or are on low-sodium diets may be particularly susceptible to heat exhaustion.

As in heat exhaustion, heat cramps can also strike when the body loses excessive amounts of fluids and salt. This deficiency, accompanied by the loss of other essential nutrients such as potassium and magnesium, typically occurs during heavy exertion.

Heat stroke, the most serious of the heat-related illnesses, occurs when the body suffers from long, intense exposure to heat and loses its ability to cool itself. In prolonged, extreme heat, the part of the brain that normally regulates body temperature malfunctions. This decreases the body's ability to sweat and, therefore, the ability to cool down is compromised. Those who have certain medical conditions that decrease the body's ability to sweat such as scleroderma or cystic fibrosis, may be at a greater risk of developing heat stroke. So how can we help prevent a heat stroke? When the heat index is high, it's best to stay in an air-conditioned environment. If you must go outdoors, you can prevent heat stroke by taking these steps: 

·       Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat.

·       Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or more.

·       Drink extra fluids. To prevent dehydration, it's generally recommended to drink at least eight glasses of water, fruit juice, or vegetable juice per day. Because heat-related illness also can result from salt depletion, it may be advisable to drink an electrolyte-rich sports drink in addition to the water during periods of extreme heat and humidity.

Take additional precautions when exercising or working outdoors. The general recommendation is to drink 24 ounces of fluid two hours before exercise, and consider adding another 8 ounces of water or sports drink right before exercise. During exercise, you should consume another 8 ounces of water every 20 minutes, even if you don't feel thirsty.

Reschedule or cancel outdoor activity. If possible, shift your time outdoors to the coolest times of the day, either early morning or after sunset.

Your body is the best asset and most important tool you have. Keep it running smoothly by taking care of yourself during these hot summer months.

*All medical references were derived from WebMd