Heat Emergencies

A Summer Heat wave can be a serious concern for:

• Seniors
• Small children
• People with chronic medical conditions (i.e. Respiratory problems and Heart conditions)
• Outside workers (i.e. construction)

Things to do:

• Stay inside – cool buildings (AC – fans etc.)
• Drink water frequently (constantly sipping)
• Wear light clothing
• Do very little exercise
• Check on the elderly, small children and the infirmed

Construction and Other Outside workers

Try to do these things:

• Drink when you are thirsty.
• Keep taking rest breaks. Rest in a cool, shady spot. Use fans.
• Wear light-colored clothing made primarily of cotton.
• Do the heaviest work in the coolest time of the day.
• Work in the shade.
• For heavy work in hot areas, take turns with other workers, so some can rest.
• If you travel to a warm area for a new job, you need time for your body to get used to the heat. Be extra careful the first 2 weeks on the job.
• If you work in protective clothing, you need more rest breaks. You may also need to check your temperature and pulse rate.

If you think someone is over come by heat (weak, tired, hot flushed possible unresponsive), call 911 immediately. Move the victim to the shade. Loosen his/her clothes. Wipe or spray his/her skin with cool water and fan him/her. You can use a piece of cardboard or other material as a fan.