This time of year can bring sudden changes in the temperatures outside. It may be mild and cool one day and blistering hot the next.
If you work outdoors or in a building that gets hot quickly, those sudden heat waves can be more than just inconvenient. They can be deadly. Knowing the signs of heat-related illness can help you save a co-worker’s life (or maybe your own). Common signs are:
- Severe headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Muscle cramps
- Extreme fatigue or weakness
- Heavy sweating
- Cold, pale skin that’s gone clammy
- Skin that’s suddenly hot, dry and red
- A rapid pulse (weak or strong)
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke aren’t far removed from each other — and both are emergencies. If a co-worker complains of feeling weak and dizzy, has a headache and feels nauseated, help them move to a cool place, get them some water and apply cool, wet cloths to their neck, face and body.
If a co-worker shows more serious signs of trouble, like confusion or agitation, vomiting or a loss of consciousness or their initially mild symptoms seem to be getting worse, it’s safer to call 911 right away.
People are more likely to suffer from heat-related illnesses when their bodies don’t have time to acclimate to sudden changes. If the weather’s been cool for a few days and suddenly turns humid and hot, you’re more likely to have trouble.
The consequences of a heat-related illness can be severe. If it happens to you, make sure that you understand your right to workers’ compensation for your losses.
