Navigating the scorching summer heat can be a matter of life and death. That's why Tim gets right down to the nitty-gritty of heat-related illnesses and arms you with knowledge that could save lives. From the sudden onslaught of heat stroke to the grueling symptoms that can catch anyone off-guard, this episode is an urgent call to action.
Navigating the scorching summer heat can be a matter of life and death. That's why Tim gets right down to the nitty-gritty of heat-related illnesses and arms you with knowledge that could save lives. From the sudden onslaught of heat stroke to the grueling symptoms that can catch anyone off-guard, this episode is an urgent call to action.
Welcome back to Safe Talk with Safe Start. I'm Tim Page-Bottorff. As many of you know, I live in Arizona, so summer heat is just part of living here in the desert. However, heat-related illnesses can impact us no matter where we live in North America. Before we get to the dog days of summer, I thought it would be helpful to discuss those illnesses here today in this podcast. I've also placed several resources in the show notes One, an article from Baylor College of Medicine and two, a poster from OSHA that you can share with all of your employees.
Tim Page--Bottorff:
While there are a number of heat-related illnesses illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion today I really want to focus in on heat stroke, which can kill you or even severely damage your organs. So what are the symptoms and, more importantly, how to prevent them? Let's take a look at the latter first. You all heard this before Drink plenty of water or sports drinks to replace your electrolytes. Wear loose, fitting and light color clothes, preferably that are breathable. Wear sunscreen, preferably SPF 30 or higher. Take plenty of breaks and, if you can, get inside where there's nice, cool air conditioning, or even take breaks in a shaded area, if you can get inside where there's nice, cool air conditioning or even take breaks in a shaded area if you're working outdoors. So heat stroke it often happens as a progression for milder heat-related illnesses, like heat cramps or heat syncope fainting and even heat exhaustion. But it can strike even if you have no previous signs of heat injury. But it can strike even if you have no previous signs of heat injury.
Tim Page--Bottorff:
Now what to do if you suspect heat stroke? In other people? Heat stroke occurs when the body reaches a core body temperature above 104 Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius. So fainting may be the first sign of heat stroke. Other symptoms might include throbbing headache, dizziness, even lightheadedness, might be a lack of sweating despite the heat, might have red, hot and or dry skin. There could be muscle weakness or cramps, maybe even nausea and vomiting. You might have a rapid heartbeat, which might be either strong or weak, rapid or even shallow breathing. There could be even behavioral changes such as confusion, fogginess, disorientation or staggering, and even seizures. So heat stroke can kill or cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. Now, although heat stroke mainly affects the elderly, it also takes a toll on healthy young athletes. So heat stroke is the most serious form of heat injury and is considered a medical emergency.
Tim Page--Bottorff:
If you suspect that someone has a heat stroke, call 911 immediately and give first aid until paramedics arrive. So while you're waiting for the paramedics to arrive, initiating first aid is the first step. So move that person to an air-conditioned environment or at least a cool, shady area which is much cooler than the area they were exposed to, and remove any unnecessary clothing If possible. Take that person's core body temperature and initiate first aid to cool it down to about 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have no thermometers available, don't hesitate still to initiate that first aid. There are several cooling strategies and try these out at FON for size Fan air over the patient while wetting their skin with water from maybe a sponge or a garden hose.
Tim Page--Bottorff:
While wetting their skin with water from maybe a sponge or a garden hose. I know I say garden hose, but you remember back in the 80s when you used to be able to drink from a garden hose. Now I'm not saying you do that here, but at least you could still wet them down using a garden hose. Apply maybe ice packs to the patient's armpits in the groin area, maybe the neck and the back. You have to know that these areas they're rich with blood vessels. They're close to the skin and cooling them. That might reduce the body temperature. You can also immerse that patient into a shower, a tub or maybe some area with cool water that's pooled up.
Tim Page--Bottorff:
If the person is young and healthy and suffered heat stroke, maybe they did it while exercising vigorously what's known as exertional heat stroke and you can use an ice bath to help cool the body. Try not to use ice for older patients or even young children and patients with chronic illness or anyone whose heat stroke occurred with vigorous or without vigorous exercise doing that can be dangerous. Now, heat stroke is most likely to affect older people who live in apartments or homes that don't have air conditioning or good airflow. If you know someone who is elderly and lives alone, check on them continually during those hot periods, especially during the summer. Other high-risk groups include people of any age who don't drink enough water, might have chronic diseases or maybe drink excessive amounts of alcohol. If emergency response is delayed, you'll have to call the hospital emergency room for additional instructions.
Tim Page--Bottorff:
So heat stroke is strongly related to the heat index, which is a measurement of how you feel, or how hot you feel, and, of course, when the effects of relative humidity and air temperature are combined, you put it together, you've got heat index. So relative humidity of 60% or more. It hampers sweat evaporation, which of course it'll hinder your body's ability to cool itself. The risk of heat-related illness dramatically increases when the heat index climbs to 90 degrees or more. So it's important, especially during heat waves, to pay attention to the reported heat index and also remember that exposure to full sunshine can increase the reported heat index by 15 degrees. Now there were several times during the summer in the last couple of years over the pandemic, that I did go out and golf and that summertime exposure you could feel it right away. So here in Arizona, when it's 115 degrees, I probably wouldn't recommend being out in the middle of the sun day. Not saying you can't go out on sun day, but if the sun exposure is at the tip top of the day 110 degrees, 105 degrees, it doesn't matter what it is, you're going to feel it.
Tim Page--Bottorff:
For those of you that live in an urban area, you may be especially prone to develop heat stroke during a prolonged heat wave and particularly if there are stagnant atmospheric conditions and even poor air quality in what is known as the heat island effect. Now asphalt and concrete, they do store heat during the day and only gradually release it at night, and that results in higher nighttime temperatures. So there's some other risk factors that are included with heat-related illnesses. So take, for example, age Infants and children up to age 4, and even adults over age 65, they're the ones that are particularly vulnerable because they adjust to heat more slowly than other people. Some people might have health conditions that contribute Heart conditions, lung, kidney, obesity, underweight You've heard all of these Could be diabetes, mental illness, sickle cell trait, something wrong with your liver. Also, those who've suffered a heat stroke are more susceptible to the impact of the heat as well.
Tim Page--Bottorff:
What about medications? Medications that include antihistamines, diet pills, diuretic sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants I say tranquilizers because we know a few that's taken some of those and, of course, maybe seizure medications, anticonvulsants, heart blood pressure medications, beta blockers you name it. You need to check with your doctor to see if your health conditions and medications are likely to affect your ability to cope or even repair yourself with extreme heat and humidity, even illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. They're also associated with increased risk of heat stroke If you know or know of anybody, or if you yourself are experiencing these types of symptoms.
Tim Page--Bottorff:
Heat stroke requires immediate emergency treatment. Untreated heat stroke, it will quickly damage your brain, your heart, your kidneys and your muscles. The damage actually worsens the longer treatment is delayed and increasing your risk of serious complication or death. So home treatment isn't enough for heat stroke. If you have signs or symptoms of heat stroke, you got to seek emergency medical help. All right. So that pretty much concludes the basics of heat stroke. But don't forget the resources that are in the show notes and consider sharing this podcast in an upcoming safety meeting. Even the weekend warriors that are tackling yard work, they can get something out of this. On behalf of the team here at Safe Talk with SafeStart I am Tim Page Bottorff. We say thank you for attending, thank you for listening, thank you for downloading and thank you for everything you've done for this podcast and for our company, SafeStart. We appreciate all of you. We'll see you down the road. Take care.
