Stay Hydrated and Cool

When it gets really hot, evaporation of sweat is all that stands between you and heat exhaustion. That is really your ace in the hole. The body perspires and the sweat evaporates to cool you off. When you are working in a hot environment you sweat a great deal – and that is good. However, it is important to replace the water. That is why you should have lots of water available and drink water continually while working.

Weather conditions can play a big part as well. A relative humidity over 60% (pretty much all summer in Georgia) slows the evaporation process, increasing the likelihood of heat exhaustion. When the heat index exceeds 90, you need to be careful. When it exceeds 100, you need to be extra careful. Besides hydration, stay out of direct sun and seek cool shelter whenever possible. Time spent in attics should be limited and preferably only in the early morning or evening.
  
Failure to drink enough water can lead to dehydration. Failure to stay hydrated and cool can lead to heat exhaustion, which can be dangerous. If you continue to ignore your body’s warning signals, heat stroke can occur, which is a medical emergency. You are no help to anybody passed out somewhere. If you are thirsty and really tired – TAKE A BREAK AND DRINK SOME WATER! Finally, note that we are drinking water; NOT beer or caffeinated soft drinks. Symptoms of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are listed below.

Symptoms of dehydration include:
• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• flushed skin
• heat intolerance
• light-headedness
• dark-colored urine
• dry cough  

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
• Confusion
• Dark-colored urine (a sign of dehydration)
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or abdominal cramps
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Pale skin
• Profuse sweating
• Rapid heartbeat

Symptoms of heat stroke include:
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness and light-headedness
• LACK OF SWEATING DESPITE THE HEAT
• Red, hot, and dry skin
• Muscle weakness or cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Confusion, disorientation, or staggering
• SEIZURES
• UNCONSCIOUSNESS

Keeping Cool While Working in the Heat

When my students come in complaining about the weather I sometimes respond, yes, isn’t the weather nice today! After all, if the temperature was always pleasant we would have far less to do. Some students are surprised that they will be working in hot conditions. Even if you are working inside an air conditioned building, if you are there to fix the air conditioner, it probably is hot. Seriously, it is a fact that the temperatures we work in are often very hot. In the southeast, the high humidity adds to the temperature perceived by the body. This is because the evaporation of sweat is your body’s only effective cooling mechanism in high temperatures. These can be dangerous conditions to work in if you don’t take reasonable precautions. First, you need to keep yourself hydrated. Drink a lot. Many technicians keep a large igloo cooler of water or gatoraide on their truck so they will always have a ready supply. In general, you should avoid alcoholic beverages, they actually tend to dehydrate you. Of course, there is an obvious safety issue of working with power tools while consuming alcohol – not usually a good idea. Caffeinated drinks are also not recommended because caffeine is a diuretic. Kind of like taking three steps forward and two back. You have to consume more because your system keeps getting flushed out. Although you cannot avoid working in the heat, you can avoid prolonged work in excessively hot areas such as attics. If at all possible, plan attic work early in the morning or late in the evening. This not only protects the workers, it improves productivity. You just cannot get as much done in the extreme heat. I recall doing a change out in an attic on a 95°F, 80% rel humidity day. The roof had black shingles and there was no shade. It did not take long before we had consumed all the beverages the family had to offer, other than tap water. However, the water was really what we needed. We worked all day, if you counted our rest breaks. Towards the end of the day we were resting for longer periods of time than we were working. Our clothes were literally dripping wet. I have no doubt that we could have done the work in half the time in cooler temperatures. My partner and I were both young and in good physical condition (a long time ago for me). I think I would literally die if I tried to do the same thing today. There are two forms of illness associated with your body overheating: heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion can be treated by resting, cooling off, and rehydrating. If heat exhaustion is not treated, it will lead to heat stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency that can be fatal. It has symptoms similar to a heat attack. Be careful in the heat. While working in the heat, if you feel faint or dizzy, nausea, rapid weak heartbeat, cramps, or headache, move to a cool place and drink some water to rehydrate.