Heat Related Illnesses and Injuries

 

When your body is unable to cool itself through sweating, serious heat illnesses may occur. The most severe heat-induced illnesses are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If actions are not taken to treat heat exhaustion, the illness could progress to heat stroke and you could possi­bly die.

Heat exhaustion

·               headaches

·               dizziness/lightheadedness

·               weakness

·               mood changes (irritable, or confused or can’t think straight)

·               feeling sick to your stomach

·               vomiting/throwing up

·               decreased and dark colored urine

·               fainting/passing out; pale clammy skin

Heat stroke—A medical emergency

·               Dry pale skin (no sweating)

·               hot red skin (looks like a sunburn)

·               mood changes (irritable, confused or not making any sense)

·               seizures/fits

·               collapse/passed out (will not respond)

Things you can do to prevent difficulties from heat related illnesses and injuries:

·               Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-induced illnesses and what you can do to help yourself or a fellow employee.

·               Use the buddy system (work in pairs) when working in hot conditions.

§    Drink plenty of cool water (one small cup every 15-20 minutes).

·               Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable (like cotton) clothing.

·               Avoid eating large meals before working in hot environments.

·               Avoid caffeine and alcoholic beverages (these beverages make your body lose water and increase the risk for heat illnesses).

·               Slowly build up tolerance to the heat and your work activity (usually takes about two weeks).

·               Do your heaviest work in the coolest part of the day.

·               Take frequent short breaks in cool shaded areas. This allows your body to cool down.

You are at increased risk when you:

·               Take certain medications. Check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacy and ask if any medi­cines you are taking affect you while working in hot environments.

·               Have had a heat-induced illness in the past.

·               Wear some personal protective equipment such as respirators or protective suits.

 

Substance Abuse

 

Worker impairment caused by mood-altering substances is not new. For several decades, alcohol has topped the list of drugs that can adversely impact an employee's health; however, use of over-the-counter medications, as well as abuse of prescription drugs, poses an increasingly large problem in the workplace. In addition to alcohol, the common types of drugs that may be encountered in today's workplace include:

·         Marijuana: Use of marijuana may impair or reduce short-term memory and comprehension, alter sense of time, and reduce a person's ability to perform tasks requiring concentration and coordination. Marijuana can also produce paranoia and psychosis.

·         Amphetamines: Because of the stimulating effect these drugs have on the central nervous system, they are frequently abused by people who must stay awake for long periods of time.

·         Barbiturates: Barbiturates comprise the largest class of drugs, and, as a result, are the most widely abused. The effects of tranquilizers and barbiturates, when taken in large doses, are similar to those evident from overindulgence in alcohol. ·         Cocaine: Cocaine, the most powerful natural stimulant, is widely abused and very dangerous. A powerful derivative of cocaine called crack (or rock), is also used, and is known as one of the most powerfully addictive drugs on the illegal market.

·         Inhalants: A variety of psychoactive substances have been inhaled as gases or volatile liquids. Many popular commercial preparations, such as paint thinners and cleaning fluids, are mixtures of volatile substances making it difficult to be specific about their various effects.

·         Narcotics: The term narcotic is given to drugs of the opiate family. Heroin and other semi-synthetic drugs such as Darvon, Dilaudid, and Percodan, are also derived from opium. Narcotics initially produce a feeling of euphoria, followed by drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting.

·         Hallucinogens: Phencyclidine (PCP) is one type of hallucinogen that produces behavioral alterations that can be multiple and dramatic. Because the drug blocks pain receptors, violent PCP episodes may result in self-inflicted injuries.

Know someone with a drug problem?

Tell the person that based on what you've seen, you believe something is happening and it concerns you. Urge that person to get help.

Think you have a drug problem?

Talk to someone in your company's employee assistance program or call an information hotline: National Institute on Drug Abuse, (800) 662-HELP; 1-800-COCAINE; Alcoholics Anonymous, (212) 686-1100; or National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, (800) 729-6686.