A heat wave has been gripping most of the country lately, but, after all, we are in the dog days of summer. Four in 5 Americans have experienced the warning signs of heat exhaustion, according to a new survey for Extreme Heat Month this July from leading worker safety gear provider Ergodyne, which reports that heat is the leading cause of death among all hazardous weather in the U.S., killing more people in a year than floods, tornadoes or hurricanes. In any event, those exposed to extreme heat conditions—people working outdoors or in crawl spaces, for example, need to take the necessary precautions to prevent heat illnesses to beat the summer heat.
Tips to Beat the Summer Heat
Our friend Rachel Housman of Ally Safety gave these five tips to beat the heat:
1. Hydrate before work. Avoid alcohol and excessive caffeine since both dehydrate.
2. Use electrolyte packs occasionally in your water bottles. They help replace lost minerals and reduce headaches while preventing heat illness.
3. Take breaks. We work slower in the heat. There’s a reason why even huge corporations support union breaks. It makes people more productive. Even a few quick 15-minute cool down breaks can prevent heat illness and make you more productive.
4. If you can, shift your shifts to avoid the hottest part of the day. There’s a reason why people in warm climates take a siesta.
5. If at any point you stop sweating, stop and get help. This is the biggest sign of heat stroke and is actually a medical emergency.
Heat Illness Training Video
Here’s Rachel in a recent video talking about the importance of hydration and how to prevent heat illness:
More Ally Safety videos can be found here:
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