1. PROTECTING AGAINST HEAT ILLNESS
Presented by:
Pamela S. Stanson
WERDSWERK

2. What Is Heat Illness?
A serious medical condition resulting from the body's inability to cope with a particular heat load, and includes heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and heat stroke.
Refer to Title 8 CCR 3395 for more information.

3. How does it happen? Excess heat carried to the skin surface
The body unable to get rid of excess heat to properly cool fast enough
The body begins to overheat
Brain triggers sweating
Prolonged sweating causes dehydration
Effects of continued dehydration…
Excess heat is carried to the skin surface to be released
The body is unable to rid itself of excess heat and properly cool at a fast enough rate
The body begins to overheat
Brain triggers sweating to further cool the body pulling water from the body
Prolonged sweating causes dehydration (loss of water and salt)
If not addressed immediately the continued dehydration can cause:
Heat Rash
Heat Cramps
Heat Collapse/Fainting (Heat Syncope)
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke

4. Heat Rash:
Skin irritation caused by excessive sweating and clogged pores during hot, humid weather.

5. Heat Rash: General Symptoms
Can cover large parts of the body
Appearance?
Areas of body that may be affected
Uncomfortable
Complicated by infections
Appearance: Looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters
Where on body: Often occurs on the neck, chest, groin, under the breasts, or in elbow creases
Uncomfortable so it can disrupt sleep and work performance

6. Heat Rash: What to do Rest in a cool, dry place Allow the skin to dry
Keep affected area dry
Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort
Dusting powder only. NO ointments or creams—inhibit skin’s natural function of cooling.

7. Heat Cramps:
When only the fluids are replaced and not the salts and minerals painful muscles cramps may result.

8. Heat Cramps: General Symptoms
Painful muscle spasms
May occur after work or at night
Painful muscle spasms in the stomach, arms, legs, and other body parts

9. Heat Cramps: What to do
Stop all activity and sit quietly in a cool place
Stretch affected muscles
Measures to relieve cramps
Wait for a few hours before returning to strenuous activity
Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in 1 hour.
May be relieved by taking (Measures):
Liquids orally (clear juice or sports drink)
Saline solution intravenously (quicker but only if medically determined to be necessary)
Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

10. Heat Collapse/Fainting (Heat Syncope) :
Caused by:
lack of adequate blood supply to the brain.
Dehydration/lack of acclimatization = increased susceptibility
Victims normally recover consciousness rapidly after they faint.
Dehydration and lack of acclimatization to work in warm or hot environments can increase the susceptibility to fainting.

11. Heat Collapse: General Symptoms
Sudden dizziness
Blurred vision
Light-headedness
Unconsciousness

12. Heat Collapse: What to do
Lie down if feeling faint
Better: move around
Moving around rather than standing in one place will generally reduce possibility of fainting

13. Heat Exhaustion:
Body’s response to an excessive loss of the water and the salt contained in sweat.
Cool skin temperature is not a valid indicator of a normal body temperature.
Heat exhaustion: Older employees or those with high blood pressure are more susceptible to heat exhaustion.
Cool skin temperature: Although the skin feels cool the internal body temperature may be dangerously high and a serious medical condition may exist.

14. Heat Exhaustion: General Symptoms
Heavy sweating
Painful muscle cramps
Extreme weakness and/or fatigue
Nausea and/or vomiting
Excessive thirst/decreased urine output
Dizziness and/or headache

15. Heat Exhaustion: General Symptoms (continued)
Body temperature normal or slightly high (but below 104°F)
Fainting
Pulse fast and weak
Breathing fast and shallow
Clammy, pale, cool, and/or moist skin

16. Heat Exhaustion: What to do
Rest in a cool place
Take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
Drink electrolyte solution
Severe case: may require longer treatment under medical supervision.
Electrolyte solution—replaces potassium, calcium, and magnesium salts.
If severe case involves vomiting or loss of consciousness: may require longer treatment under medical supervision.

17. Heatstroke:
Heatstroke is usually fatal unless emergency medical treatment is provided promptly.

18. Heat Stroke: General Symptoms
No sweating
Mental confusion, delirium, convulsions, dizziness
Hot/dry skin
Muscles may twitch uncontrollably
Pulse: rapid and weak
*No sweating because the body cannot release heat or cool down
*Mental confusion, delirium, convulsions, dizziness
*Hot and dry skin (e.g., red, bluish, or mottled)
*If the muscles begin to twitch uncontrollably, keep the person from self-injury. Do not place any objects in the mouth.
*Pulse can be rapid and weak

19. Heat Stroke: General Symptoms (cont.)
Throbbing headache, shallow breathing, seizures and/or fits
Unconsciousness and coma
Body temperature may range from °F or higher
Monitor body temperature
*Body temperature may range from °F or higher within minutes
*Monitor body temperature: continue cooling efforts until emergency medical treatment is provided to the victim.

20. Heat Stroke: What to do Victim can die if not treated promptly!
Help victim while waiting for medical help.
Monitor body temperature/continue cooling efforts.
What to do if emergency medical personnel are delayed.
Do not give the victim alcohol to drink.
*Victim can die if not treated promptly!
Call 911!
Prompt first aid can prevent permanent injury to the brain and other vital organs
*While waiting for medical help, victim should be:
Moved to a cool area
Soaked (clothing) with cool water (shower, hose, sponge). If the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet
Fanned vigorously to facilitate cooling
*Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to °F.
*If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
*Alcohol further dehydrates the body.

21. WARNING!! Rapid Onset Heat illness:
Can develop very rapidly
Not always obvious
Beware of effects of heat wave
*Can develop very rapidly
Is not always obvious before it becomes life-threatening.
*During a heat wave heat illness:
Can develop faster
Even employees who have been doing their job for some time are at risk.

22. VARIABILITY IN SYMPTOM RECOGNITION AND REPORTING
Symptoms of heat illness may vary between individuals.
Employees may not accurately recognize and report the symptoms.
Victims may be placed at a greater health risk; may not report the full range of symptoms they are feeling.
*Symptoms of heat illness may vary between individuals.
-Can occur even after work has stopped
*Employees:
-May not accurately recognize and report the symptoms.
-Should be encouraged never to discount any discomfort or symptoms they are experiencing when working in heat, after work or before the next workday
-Should immediately report any problems they are experiencing to a supervisor and coworker, or a family member to seek prompt medical attention
Victims may be placed at a greater health risk. Victims of heat illness may not report the full range of symptoms they are feeling because they:
Choose not to for fear of negative consequences
Deny that the symptoms may be serious
Have not been trained to identify the symptoms of heat illness
Are not physically able to report (e.g., they may have fainted)
Are not fully aware of what is happening to their bodies (e.g., they may be delirious or mentally confused)

23. Important : Training
Employees and supervisors must be fully trained on the prevention of heat illness before they are assigned to work in locations where they are at risk for heat illness.

24. Best Prevention: Be Prepared
If you are to work in an extreme heat environment:
Acclimate yourself
Wear loose clothing AND sunscreen
Schedule and pace outside activities carefully
Drink water frequently
Replace salts and minerals
Use a buddy system and monitor yourself for any symptoms of heat illness
Be prepared if you are to work in an extreme heat environment
Acclimate yourself
Wear loose clothing/wear sunscreen
Schedule outside activities carefully
Pace your activities
Drink water frequently (1 Qt./Employee/Hour)
Replace salts and minerals (do not take salt tablets unless directed by a physician) – Sports Drinks usually supply these
Use a buddy system
Monitor yourself for any symptoms of heat illness

25. Remember: WORK SAFELY! The Best Prevention is Precaution…
Information provided by:
The Center for Disease Control
National Safety Council
OSHA