Extreme summer temperatures are not only uncomfortable, they are also dangerous for your health. This is particularly true for older adults and children, who are more susceptible to illness. When it is hot outside, your body temperature can rise to dangerous levels. Normally, your body cools itself through sweating. However, in hot and humid weather, sweating is not enough and the result can heat illnesses.

Avoiding Heat Illnesses

Here are some tips for staying safe when you’re out in the heat:

1. Wear loose, light-colored clothing so your skin gets air exposure.
2. Shield your head and face from direct sunlight by wearing a hat and sunglasses.
3. Avoid spending time outdoors during the middle of the day, when temperatures are highest and the sun is directly overhead.
4. Take regular breaks in a shaded area if you’re involved in a strenuous activity.
5. Drink water frequently, even if you aren’t thirsty. Experts recommend drinking at least 8 ounces every 20 to 30 minutes to stay hydrated. Stick to water, fruit juice and sport drinks while avoiding caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, which can dehydrate you.
6. Monitor children and seniors carefully, since they can get dehydrated more easily.
7. Call 911 if someone exhibits symptoms of heat stroke, such as flushed skin, rapid breathing, a throbbing headache or confusion.

Providing Treatment for Heat Illnesses

It is essential to treat heat illness as soon as possible. If you are feeling any of the above symptoms, inform a co-worker and ask for help. If you suspect that a fellow worker has any of these conditions, follow the first-aid suggestions below:

• Heat Cramps – Move the victim to a cooler area and provide them with water or other cool, nonalcoholic beverages. Follow up with a medical examination.
• Heat Exhaustion – Move the victim to a cooler area and keep them lying down with their legs slightly elevated. Cool their body by fanning and applying cool, wet towels. Have them drink approximately six ounces of water every 15 minutes. Follow up with a medical examination.
• Heat Stroke – You or a bystander should immediately call an ambulance. Meanwhile, move the victim to a cooler area, remove their outer clothing, immerse them in cool water or apply cool, wet towels or cloths to the body. If the person is awake and able to swallow, give them small amounts of cool water to drink. If medical help is delayed, call the hospital for further instructions while waiting. Heat stroke is life-threatening, so it’s important to move quickly!

Stay Safe

The risk of heat illness increases with age, poor diet, being overweight, insufficient liquid intake, poor physical condition and/or when taking medication. Never take salt tablets without your doctor’s approval. Be aware of weather conditions when you will be working outside so that you can be prepared with appropriate clothing and beverages. If you are working outside and start to feel any adverse symptoms,  let someone know and take a break.

Click here to read more Heat Illness Safety Tips from the CDC

A workplace accident requires prompt action to help employees who are injured. For example, if you are nearby when a co-worker trips and hurts their leg on the job, your knowledge of first aid could prove essential.

First aid refers to the immediate assistance provided to an injured individual. This assistance is intended to prevent the injured person’s condition from worsening, promote recovery and offer support until professional medical services arrive. Here are some scenarios that may require first aid and other basic precautions to consider.

Cuts and Lacerations

Should an individual receive a cut, the most important action is to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible. Have the injured person lie down, then apply direct pressure on the wound with a sterile pad or the cleanest piece of cloth you can find. If the cloth becomes saturated with blood, add more pads or cloths and secure them with a bandage.

If the wound is on an arm or a leg, and the blood flow is particularly hard to stop, you can try pressing on the brachial or femoral arteries to reduce the flow. Always seek immediate medical attention amid any incident involving profuse bleeding.

Chemicals

You may also need to work with chemicals from time to time. Should chemicals get into someone’s eye, use the emergency eyewash station. If one is unavailable or not nearby, dilute the chemical by pouring water into the eye. Pour at least a quart of water into the corner of the eye so that it runs over the surface and flows out the other side.

If chemicals get onto an individual’s skin, wash the area repeatedly with large amounts of water. Remove any contaminated clothing. Check the label on the chemical to see if any additional steps should be taken. Call 911 if the affected individual experiences dizziness, nausea, chest pains or shortness of breath.

Particles

If a foreign particle gets embedded into someone’s eye, do not try to remove it like you would a chemical. Instead, have the injured person lie flat, place a sterile pad over the eye, bandage it in place and seek medical help immediately. Avoid movement that could drive the particle deeper into the eye. If the particle is under the eyelid or floating on the surface of the eyeball, you can try removing it with the corner of a clean piece of cloth. However, never rub someone’s eye when trying to remove a particle from it.

Shock

A severe accident or injury often brings on a condition called shock. A person experiencing shock may appear weak or confused, have cold or clammy skin, feel nauseous or display vacant eyes with dilated pupils.

To help someone in shock, place the individual on their back and elevate their feet unless head or chest injuries are present. Then, raise their head and shoulders with pillows. Next, place blankets over and under their body to conserve heat. Don’t administer any fluids unless professional medical services are delayed for at least 30 minutes. If that is the case, give the individual half a glass of plain, lukewarm water every 15 minutes. Stop providing fluids if the person becomes nauseated.

Takeaway

Remember, first aid is the best immediate response to an injury, but you should always seek appropriate medical attention afterward.

Reach out to your supervisor for additional first-aid resources.

The long and warm days of summer can be fun and exciting, but while these conditions may be enjoyable, they can also be hazardous to your health.

Prolonged exposure to the sun can have a particularly dangerous impact on both your short- and long-term health, including damaged skin, sunburn and skin cancer. Given these potentially severe consequences, it’s necessary to understand basic precautions while out in the sun.

5 Ways to Protect Yourself From the Sun

To limit your risk of developing skin cancer or other sun-related conditions, consider the following steps:

1. Think about the time. If possible, schedule your time outdoors before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to avoid the strongest sunlight and greatest exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
2. Check the forecast. Before you head outdoors for the day, be aware of the weather that awaits you. High temperatures and particularly sunny conditions may be dangerous.
3. Use sunscreen. Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to any bare skin at least 30 minutes before sun exposure. Reapply every two hours or more frequently if you plan to swim or be in the water.
4. Seek out shade. Take advantage of any available shade while outdoors, such as next to buildings or under large trees. If you expect to be out in the open for an extended period of time, bring an umbrella.
5. Protect your eyes. The strong sunlight of summer can be hazardous for your optical health. Wear sunglasses while outdoors and consider bringing a brimmed hat as well.

Keep these tips in mind to have a fun and safe time enjoying the summer sun.