Safety at Steigerwaldt: Beat the Heat

This month’s safety topic for the Steigerwaldt team is safety from the heat and how to prevent heat illnesses. So far, this summer has had some hot days, and now that it is officially the hottest month of the year, it is very important to protect yourself from the sun and the heat.

There are two types of illness that can occur from the heat, one having greater consequences than the other, but both are very dangerous. These illnesses are Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke. Know the differences!

Heat Exhaustion occurs when you neglect to take care of yourself during a heat wave without even realizing it. This is when your body loses a high amount of water and the essential salt that you need to stay hydrated, usually in the form of sweat. The most common symptoms of heat exhaustion are:
● Sweating
● Muscle cramps
● Weakness and fatigue, feeling like you can’t go on
● Rapid heart rate
● Headache, dizziness, feeling of passing out

There are several ways to prevent heat exhaustion from happening such as:
● Drinking ample amounts of water: the first sign of dehydration is just by simply feeling thirsty
● Consuming liquids such as Gatorade, Pedialyte, and other drinks that contain the salts and other essentials that your body needs
● Taking a break every once in a while to cool off in the shade or in an air-conditioned environment if necessary

What to do if you have heat exhaustion:
● Find an air-conditioned or shaded environment if possible
● Drink water or a sports drink
● Apply cool water to your skin to cool your body temperature

Heat Stroke occurs when heat exhaustion continues, is not treated, and the effects are much worse and become very dangerous. Some of the most common signs of this are: