Stay safe in extreme heat

An increase temperature often leads to an increase in heat-related illnesses. Prepare yourself to stay healthy this summer.

1.     Check the weather. Watch the news. Be aware of extremely hot weather conditions ahead of time.

2.     Stay hydrated! Drink plenty of water or sports drinks with electrolytes. Remind colleagues to do the same.

3.     Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink hydrating.

4.     Listen to your body. If you feel lightheaded, sick to your stomach, crampy, clammy/ extremely dry skin, or have blurred vision, STOP WORKING. Take a break!

5.     Wear breathable clothing, and proper PPE when working outside. Don’t rely on a fan as your primary cooling device.

6.     Get plenty of rest in the evenings if you worked in the sun during the day.

7.     Eat healthy. Choose healthy fats, meats, and vegetables. Also, eat less processed, sugary, and fried foods.

8.     Limit your alcoholic beverages, soda, sugary beverages, and cigarette/tobacco/e-cig usage on hot sunny days.

9.     Take proper medication as prescribed and avoid medication that could affect your health in hot climates.

10.  Communicate with your colleagues if you are not feeling your best.

11.  Follow a buddy system and check on your colleagues to make sure they don’t have symptoms of heat-related illness.