Heat illness can grab anyone in most every industry and out-of-work activities. Presenter is a coach outside of work, a Safety, Health and Wellness professional, and has seen both athletes and workers fall victim to heat. This presentation uses facts from a variety of sources along with his first-hand experience.

1. Heat Illnesses – prevention,
protection, and recovery
Jim O’Dell,
EHS/Wellness
Manager

2. How Hot is it?

4. Hot Stats
• + - 400 deaths are attributed to excessive
natural heat annually in USA
– 6% children less than 4 years old
– 41% persons aged >75 years
– 73% all aged deaths occurred among males
– these deaths are preventable

5. Hot Sport Facts
• Heat fatalities in sport…
– 5 sport deaths in America 1931-1959
– 103 deaths in America 1960-2000
National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research

6. Falling Victim to Heat
• Know the signs and symptoms of the various
types of heat-related illnesses
• Excessive thirst
• Sleepiness or fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Muscle weakness or cramps
• Headache
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Sweating profusely
• No sweat; hot red skin

7. Three Major Heat Illnesses
• Heat and humidity can cause several types of
heat-related illnesses. The three major
illnesses are:
– heat cramps
– heat exhaustion
– heat stroke

8. Heat and Humidity?
• The Heat Index
• Combines air temperature and relative humidity to
determine how hot it actually feels
– Relative humidity is high, evaporation rate of the water is
reduced
– Heat is removed at a lower rate, causing it to retain more
heat than in dry air
• Higher combinations of heat and humidity make the
body more susceptible to heat-related illnesses

9. Heat Index Table
Extreme
Caution
Heat
Index
130 F or
higher
105 –
129 F
90 –
105 F
Sun / Heat stroke, muscle cramps, and/or heat exhaustion likely.
Heatstroke possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
Sun / Heat stroke, muscle cramps, and/or heat exhaustion possible with
prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
Caution
80 – 90 F
Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
Category
Extreme
Danger
Danger
Possible heat illness
Heat stroke or sun stroke likely.

10. Working Challenge
• Consistently and safely meet requirements for
performance daily, weekly, annually and length of
career
• Develop endurance to match the daily demand of 8
– 12 hours, especially in the heat
• Develop endurance required to recover after
working day after day of 8 – 12 hour shifts
• Be capable of strong aerobic endurance, body
flexibility and balanced body strength
• Develop healthy habits including proper hydration
levels

11. Your Body is Fluid
• Roughly 70 percent of your body is made up
of water
• Thirsty? Amount of water in your body is
reduced by one percent
• You can lose up to 10 cups of water daily by
sweating, breathing and eliminating waste

13. Responding to Heat
• The body normally cools itself by sweating
• During hot weather several factors can affect
the body’s response
– high humidity: sweat will not evaporate as
quickly, preventing the body from quickly
releasing heat
– other factors: age, obesity, fever, dehydration,
heart disease, poor circulation, sunburn, caffeine

14. Falling Victim to Heat
• Know the signs and symptoms of the various
types of heat-related illnesses
• Excessive thirst
• Sleepiness or fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Muscle weakness or cramps
• Headache
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Sweating profusely
• No sweat; hot red skin
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/undertheweather/details/826/1139160

15. Signs & Symptoms
•
•
•
•
Heat Cramps
• Leg cramps
Muscular pain and spasms due to heavy
exertion • Muscle spasms
• Tightened abdomen
Loss of waterWeak,salt through sweating
• and faint or dizzy
• Possible nausea
Usually occurs during outdoor and/or
• Normal
strenuous activities mental status
Can occur even when it does not seem very
hot or humid

16. Signs & Symptoms
•
•
•
•
Heat Exhaustion
• Skin blood flow to
Fluid loss causingis cool and moistdecrease to
vital organs• Excessive perspiration
• Pupils are dilated (large)
Flu-like symptomstemp occur hours after illness
• Body can near normal
• Strong life threatening if
Serious though not headache
• Weak, dizzy or faint
identified and treated properly
• Disorientation
Without treatment, heat exhaustion can lead
• Dark and decreased urine
to heat stroke

17. Signs & Symptoms
Heat Stroke
• Skin type and dry
• The most seriousis hot of heat-related illness
• No sweating
that is LIFE THREATENING and requires
• care
IMMEDIATE Pupils are very small
• Victim is confused or unable
• Occurs when the body’s heat regulating
to think straight
system fails
• Possible seizures
• Body temperatures raise to a point that brain
• Body temperature is very
damage and death may result,as 105° the body
high (can be as high unless F)
is cooled very quickly

19. Care and Treatment

•
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•
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•




Heat Cramps
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke
Move to a cooler location
Call 911 immediately
Get medical attention
Move victim to a cool area loses
Seek medical help if victim
consciousness
Loosen clothing
Lay victim on their back and elevate feet 8-10
Drink
inchesplentywith water
Douse body of fluids (water, juice, sport
drink)
If conscious, give 8wetof water to neck,
Apply ice packs or oz clothes every 15
minutes, supporting their head
armpits and groin
Cool by fanning or spraying with cool water

20. Another look

21. Preventing Heat-Related Emergencies
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Avoid long periods of direct sunlight
Use at least SPF 15 sunblock
Keep air circulating around your body
Lightweight, loosely fitting or wicking clothes
Eat light foods; heavy food digestion makes heat
Non-caffeinated fluids
Drink water or other electrolyte products
Never wait until you feel thirsty
A healthy person can drink up to three gallons (48
cups) of water per day!

22. Pay Attention to the Weather

23. Pre-Hydration
• 16-24 fluidounces of water consumed an
hour before strenuous activity – then
• Non-caffeinated beverages during and after
work or play with:
• 16 fluidounces of water every hour
• Supplement water with 8 fluidounces of an
electrolyte replacement drink for sodium and
potassium replenishment every 60-90 mins.
• Relying solely on sports drinks can be
harmful

24. Post-Hydration
• Thoroughly hydrate at least twice a day
• After activity, thoroughly quench your thirst. This
should also take about two to three glasses of fluid
• If plain water is too boring try a mix of orange juice
and water (3 parts O.J. to 1 part water) or various
100-percent fruit juices also diluted with water
• Low-fat chocolate milk is great for recovery. Protein,
carbs and other nutrients, hastens quick muscle
recovery. Try a 50-50 mix of chocolate soy milk and
one-percent low-fat milk

25. Who’s your Pal?
• Monitor condition of your friends and/or coworkers when working in the heat
• Have someone check on you
twice a day when working in a
heat wave
• Check on elderly twice per day
• Heat-induced illnesses can
cause confusion and loss of

26. Ready for the Heat?
•
•
•
•
Dress in light colored, lightweight clothing
Drink lots of non-caffeinated beverages
Eat lighter meals more often
Keep cool in air-conditioned rooms as you
can. Use your break times wisely
• At the first sign of a heat-related illness, stop
all activity, cool down, and provide proper
treatment

27. Ahhhh