First aid for heat

Responding is Kelly Graham – manager, product development, Magid, Romeoville, IL.

Although most employers have implemented heat safety measures on the job, many heat-related illness myths persist and can cost workers their health and even their lives.

Four myths we hear frequently:

Myth 1: Acclimated, hydrated workers are protected from heat-related illnesses.
Heat acclimatization and hydration are crucial protections for working in the heat, but they don’t make anyone invincible. Working in conditions that are hot or even working hard in warm conditions can cause a worker’s body temperature to rise above what it can handle. So even a well-hydrated, heat-acclimated person can suffer from heat-related illness up to and including heatstroke if they get so hot that their body can’t cool down to a safe temperature. Be sure you’re including body-cooling personal protective equipment and other heat safety measures for workers in the heat.

Myth 2: It’s safe to let a worker who is showing signs of a heat-related illness sit in the shade by themselves with a drink and body-cooling measures while work continues.
A worker showing signs of a heat-related illness is in a vulnerable state and should never be left alone – even when other workers are nearby. A victim may not be able to alert others if they begin to feel worse, and a busy work crew may not immediately notice if someone has lost consciousness or begun to show additional signs of severe heat stress. Use the buddy system, even in the case of what appears to be a mild heat-related illness, and have someone sit with the worker until they’re out of danger.

Myth 3: It’s enough to get a worker with a heat-related illness into the air conditioning or cover them with cold towels.
These measures may be enough for a mild heat-related illness, but they shouldn’t be your default. Instead, create a plan that includes assigning a trained person to monitor the victim’s condition, looking for signs of a more severe heat-related illness. Air conditioning, cool hydration and cold towels may be enough for mild issues, but they won’t save someone who has heatstroke. Be sure every jobsite has the equipment to treat heatstroke, including a tub or tarp and access to ice and water for full-body immersion.

Myth 4: Get a heatstroke victim into an ambulance ASAP.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency, so assigning a bystander to call 911 immediately is the right thing to do. But be sure that your team and the EMS team understand the “Cool first, transport second” protocol. Organ, brain and tissue damage from heatstroke can continue as someone is being transported to the hospital. That’s why it’s crucial to cool down the victim to a safe body temperature via full-body immersion in ice water before loading them into an ambulance. Immersion should begin as soon as possible on the jobsite. Allow EMS to determine the worker’s body temperature when they arrive to find out if transport is safe. Fortunately, many ambulances have started to add ice water immersion capabilities to their vehicles, but you should advocate for your workers to ensure the right measures are in place.

Editor's note: This article represents the independent views of the author and should not be considered a National Safety Council endorsement.