How to Avoid Heat Stress This Summer

 

Tips to Avoid Heat Stress This Summer

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• Prepare for outdoor activities that are for extended periods of time. Heat stress during outdoor activities, like sports practices and games, is a common occurrence. Risks for suffering from heat-related illnesses increase for those who are not in good physical condition, the elderly, and very young children. In addition to being aware of time spent outdoors during extreme heat, there are some other steps you can take to be sure your employees, family, and you stay safe:
• Drink plenty of fluids. Sip throughout your time in extreme heat to ensure that you're constantly hydrating. Dehydration is one of the key symptoms of heat exhaustion. As the intensity of your activity increases, take a fluid break at least every 15 minutes.
• Avoid rapid exposure to temperature extremes. Allow your body to adjust naturally by incremental exposure to extreme temperature versus heating up and cooling down and then repeating this process.
• Wear light clothing. Whenever you are active in extreme heat for extended periods of time, wear light clothing that allows your body to cool itself using natural evaporative cooling that's produced from sweat and circulated air.
• Wear a hat or head covering. Heat stress can be minimized significantly with this simple step.
• Wear sunscreen. When you are active outdoors for long periods, sunscreen needs to be applied regularly.
• Take it easy. Your body will tell you when it's time for a break. Don't ignore it. Take a rest period in a cooling station to reduce core body temperature and refresh yourself before continuing with your activities.
• Watch for symptoms. Symptoms of heat stress include excessive sweating or no sweating at all, nausea, goose bumps, tightening muscles, or dizziness. Download the whitepaper "Avoid Heat Stress" for a list of other symptoms.
• Trade coffee or alcohol for water or sports drinks. Coffee and alcohol can be dehydrating while water and sports drinks replace fluids lost from sweating.
• Be sure you're sweating when you're active, but also be sure it's evaporating and not sticking to your skin. Excessive sweating can be a sign of heat stress.
• Take the time to plan ahead when you know you or those you care about will be outdoors for extended periods. Just a little planning can save your health and your summer.
• Port-A-Cool® portable evaporative cooling units provide fresh cool air and require only tap water and 220v of electricity to operate. They make a perfect addition for a cooling station, in your outdoor living area, or work areas where extreme heat is a problem for employees. Port-A-Cool® units are completely portable on casters and can lower the temperature of ambient air up to 7˚ C.
• For providing 100% fresh, cool air for warehouse or shop employees, kennels, poultry houses, gymnasiums, or during outdoor activities, Port-A-Cool® units are the only choice.
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