Lesson 8 Heat-related illness
- When you work in a warm environment under the sun, you can be affected by heat-related illnesses.
- You can prevent heat-related illnesses by wearing proper light clothing and head protection, by taking regular intervals sitting under a shaded place while drinking plenty of water.
- The symptoms of heat-related illnesses are often non-specific, therefore any unusual symptom can mean that you may be overheated.
- Heat-related illnesses include heat cramps, heat exhaustion or even the severe form of heat stroke.
- If you or any co-worker of yours experience symptoms including confusion, unconsciousness, seizures, heavy sweating, intense heat, extreme fatigue, irritability, thirst, nausea or vomiting, or dizziness or lightheadedness, then you need to call for an ambulance while also providing first aid.
1.Move the affected person to a cooler location (e.g., shade or air conditioning).
2.Try to cool him/her down right away. Make use of active cooling strategies like:
- Immerse body in cool water or a cool bath.
- Create the ice bath by combining all of the available ice with water in a large container, as is common in sports. In an emergency, this is the greatest way to quickly chill personnel.
3.Remove all outer layers, particularly heavy protective clothes.
4.Apply ice or wet cold towels to the head, neck, trunk, armpits, and groin.
5.Circulate air around the worker with α fan/hard paper.
6.Never leave someone suffering from heat related illness alone. The disease can quickly deteriorate. Stay with the employee.
7.Try to get medical help.