Page 30 - OHS, February/March 2025

S U M M E R H A Z A R D S
Quality Stock Arts/stock.adobe.com
Protecting Yourself from Summer Hazards
Preventing seasonal injuries and illnesses due to heat, humidity and sun.
BY RANDY DEVAUL, MA, NREMT
one’s quality of life. Hurricanes, fi res, tornadoes, and health is-
It’s never too early to prepare and plan for events that can disrupt
sues are just a few of the events that come to mind.
One category of events for which we can plan and prevent
such disruptions from occurring is summer hazards. Every year,
numerous, repetitive reminders about summer hazards are pro-
vided to the point where we might ignore or tire of the warnings.
Yet, we still see people overcome by these hazards that, sometimes,
alter a person’s quality of life permanently.
Th ese hazards are recognizable, repeatable, and preventable, so
taking precautions now in preparing and planning for these haz-
ards makes sense. Knowing and recognizing the hazards leads to
our ability to prevent our exposures to them.
Heat
Th e most common hazard related to summer, regardless of where
you live, is heat. Whether you believe the politicized hype that reg-
ulators are pushing, or you simply live in a place that gets warmer
during the summer months, you can protect yourself and others
through proven prevention techniques while also being able to
recognize someone experiencing a heat-related event and appro-
priately responding to it.
When I fi rst moved to Florida from Buff alo, one of my fi rst
questions was, “How does everyone cope with the heat?” Th e re-
sponse was another question: “Why do you think everything is air
conditioned?”
Well, if you work outdoors or in a manufacturing or warehouse
site that has no climate control, “air conditioning” takes on a new
meaning. We do not have to be subject to a fatal heatstroke or other
heat-related illnesses if we take the steps necessary to allow our
bodies time to acclimatize or adjust to the heat.
Acclimatization and Prevention. It can take up to fi ve days for
a body to adjust to a signifi cant change in temperature. As spring
transitions to summer, there are prevention strategies that can help
us navigate this hazard.
■ Wear lighter-weight and lighter color clothing
■ Consider shorter but more frequent breaks in climate-con-
trolled areas
■ Drink more water, at least 64 ounces/day, increasing the
amount as temperatures climb
■ Eat cooler or non-warming food at work – something that
doesn’t require microwaving
■ Increase fruit intake, such as watermelon, that is higher in
water content
■ If possible, plan the most physical work during non-peak
hours of heat
28 Occupational Health & Safety | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2025 www.ohsonline.com