Building Site
June 19th 2020
As we experience some warmer weather it is important to remember to stay safe, especially for those at work and working on sites. When the weather is warmer, especially as we aren’t acclimated to it in the UK, it is particularly important to remind yourself of the symptoms of heat exhaustion and the ways to avoid it. Spending time either inside a warehouse or office where it may be warm or outside in direct heat can put you at risk of heat exhaustion.
Knowing the symptoms of heat exhaustion is important for both yourself and your colleagues, heat exhaustion does not need to be serious if you can cool down within 30 minutes. However, when not treated it can turn into heatstroke, which needs to be considered an emergency.
You don’t need to be showing all the above signs to be experiencing heat exhaustion, if someone shows signs they should be cooled down.
What to Do If You Have Heat Exhaustion
If you or someone else is experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion, you need to cool them down. The first thing to do is to move to a cool place, if you are outside this may mean moving inside especially if it is air conditioned. Lie down, with raised feet if possible and drink plenty of water or rehydration drinks. You can also cool your skin by spraying cool water and using a fan. You should begin to cool down after this; if not and signs of heatstroke appear, call 999.
Signs of heatstroke include:
Heatstroke is a medical emergency and medical attention should be sought, if a person loses consciousness place them in the recovery position.
The best treatment for heat exhaustion is to prevent it. Therefore, let’s look at some of the best ways to prevent it.
One of the most important things to do when it is a hot day is to stay hydrated. Being dehydrated has its own problems, but it can also contribute to heat exhaustion. If you do any exercise or your job involves a lot of activity this is even more important.
The sun is hottest between 11am and 3pm, so try to avoid as much as possible during this time. Where this is not possible, make sure to follow all the other advice in preventing heat exhaustion.
Light coloured clothing reflects the heat better so will keep you cooler in the sun. In addition, make sure your clothing is loose if possible, to ensure it is breathable.
We’ve more insight for when it comes to preventing heatstroke at work, just click the link.
Lauren works in our Ecommerce Team, with over 6 years of experience at HSS. She brings product knowledge and is able to give her advice on the right tool for the job no matter how big or small.
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