Killer Heat- A National Problem
Heat stress is a serious matter! More than 5,000 people a year die of heat stroke. Among the family of natural disasters only the cold of winter claims more lives. In the 40 year period between 1936 and 1975, nearly 20,000 people were killed in the United States alone by the effects of heat and solar radiation. More than 1,250 people died in the disastrous heat wave of 1980.
What Causes Heat Stress?
Your body temperature is regulated at a relatively constant temperature of 98.6º F/37ºC. To create and maintain this temperature the body converts or "burns" the chemical energy in food. During physical activity or demanding physical work, the body needs more energy to operate. When it burns more energy, the body temperature goes up.
Effects of Heat on the Body
Heat Stroke occurs when the body's system of temperature regulation fails and body temperature rises to critical levels. Heat stroke is and should be treated as a medical emergency. If body temperature is too high, it causes death.
Primary Signs of Heat Stroke
- Confusion
- Convulsions
- Irrational Behavior
- Loss of Consciensness
- Hot, Dry Skin
- Lack of Sweating
- Abnormally High Body Temperature
Treatment: Professional medical treatment should be obtained immediately. Victim should be placed in shaded area and outer clothing removed. Skin should be wetted and air movement around victim should be increased to improve evaporative cooling until professional methods of cooling are initiated and the seriousness of the condition can be assessed. Fluids should be replaced as soon as possible.
Primary Signs of Heat Exhaustion
- Headache
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Vertigo
- Thirst
- Giddiness
Treatment: This condition responds quickly to prompt treatment. Caution should be exercised and the condition should not be treated lightly. Fainting associated with heat exhaustion can be dangerous because the victim may be operating machinery or could fall and injure themselves.
Heat Cramps are usually caused by performing hard physical labor in a hot environment. These cramps have been associated to an electrolyte imbalance caused by sweating. It is important to note, cramps can be caused by both too much and too little salt. Cramps appear to be caused by the lack of replenishment. Water shoud be taken every 15-20 minutes in hot environments.
Recent studies have shown that drinking commercially available carbohydrate-electrolyte replacement liquids is effective in minimizing nausea during recovery.
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Heat Collapse "Fainting". In heat collapse, the brain does not receive enough oxygen because blood pools in the extremities. As a result, the exposed individual may lose consciousness. To prevent heat collapse, care should be take the acclimatize to the hot environment.
Heat Rashes are the most common in hot work environments. Prickly heat is manifested as red papules and usually appears in areas where clothing is restrictive. As sweating increases, the papules give rise to a prickling sensation. Prickly heat occurs in skin that is persistently wetted by unevaporated sweat, and heat rash papules may become infected if they are not treated. In most cases the papules will disappear when the affected individual returns to a cool environment.
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Heat Fatique: Caused primarily by persons predisposed to heat due to a lack of acclimatization. There is no treatment for heat fatique except to remove the heat stress before a more serious heat-related condition develops.
Heat Index
Considering the dangers associated with heat not only from natural sources like the sun but also from artificial sources like manufacturing both OSHA and the National Weather Service have stepped up their efforts to alert the general public and employers more effectively.
Based on the latest research findings, the National Weather Service has devised the "Heat Index" (HI) (sometimes referred to as the "apparent temperature"). The heat index, given in degrees Fahrenheit, is an accurate measure of how hot it really feels when the relative humidity is added to the actual air temperature.
To find the Heat Index, look at the Heat Index Chart. As an example, if the air temperature is 95ºF (found on the left of the table), and the relative humidity is 55% (found at the top of the table) the HI--or how hot it really feels -- is 110ºF. This is at the intersection of the 95ºF row and the 55% column.
IMPORTANT: Since HI values were devised for shady, light wind conditions, exposure to full sunshine can increase HI values by up to 15ºF. Also, strong winds, particularly with very hot dry air can be extremely hazardous.
Note on the HI chart the shaded zone above 105ºF. This corresponds to a level of HI that may cause increasingly severe heat disorders with continued exposure and/or physical activity.
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| Heat Index/Heat Disorders |
| Heat
Index
|
Possible heat disorders for people in higher risk groups |
| 130º + |
Heatstroke/sunstroke highly likely with continued exposure. |
| 105º-130ºF |
Sunstroke, heat cramps or heat exhaustion likely, and heatstroke POSSIBLE with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity. |
| 90º-105ºF |
Sunstroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity |
| 80º-90ºF |
Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity. |
 Heat Wave Safety Tips
Slow down. Strenous activities should be reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day. Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
Dress for summer. Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.
Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods (like proteins) that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss..
Drink plenty of water or other nonalcoholic fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don't feel thirsty. Persons who (1) have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease, or (2) are on fluid restrictive diets, or (3) have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.
Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician. Persons on salt restrictive diets should consult a physician before increasing their salt intake.
Spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduce danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air-conditioner, spending some time each day (during hot weather) in an air conditioned environment affords some protection.
Don't get too much sun. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult.
Do utilize evaporative cooling products. Products like MiraCool personal cooling products cool the blood at the body's pulse points thus cooling takes place from the inside out.
Heat and Your Pet
Since neither cats nor dogs perspire like humans do, they must loose body heat by panting. However, sometimes panting isn't enough to keep a pet cool.
Heat stress means that an animal is having trouble maintaining its normal body temperature due to its environment. It's caused by a combination of high temperature, humidity and poor ventilation, initial signs of heat stress include panting, red mucous membranes and an increased heart rate. The animal's legs, nose and ears will feel hot.
This condition can progress to heatstroke, where the animal's natural control mechanisms can no longer deal with the heat stress and the animal shows clinical signs of overheating.
Owners can help prevent heat stress problems by providing a proper environment. If your pet is kept outside on warm days, be sure to provide shade and free access to plenty of cool drinking water. Don't exercise your dog on a hot day and never leave a pet in a closed car or in an area where it cannot get out of the sun.
Source Information obtained from National Weather Service and OSHA Technical Manuals.
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