April 2025
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Inside the April Issue |
Control of Heat Stress
Hydration & Acclimatization
Heat stress, from exertion or hot environments,
places workers at risk for illnesses
such as heat stroke, heat
exhaustion, or heat cramps. Drinking
enough fluids is one of the most important
things you can do to prevent heat illness.
New employees are at the highest risk for
heat illness. Acclimatization is crucial to
working in hot conditions.
Hydrate Before Work
Being hydrated when you start work
makes it easier to stay hydrated through
the day. If you are dehydrated when you
start work, you may not be able to drink
enough to catch up with your body’s need
for water.
Hydrate During Work
Drink before feeling thirsty. By the
time you feel thirsty, you are already behind
in fluid replacement.
Dehydration is
a primary contributor to heat exhaustion. Your work performance may suffer when you are dehydrated,
even if you don’t notice.
When working in the heat, drink 1
cup (8 ounces) of water every 15–20 minutes. This translates
to ¾–1 quart (24–32 ounces) per hour. Drinking at
shorter intervals is more effective than drinking large
amounts infrequently. Do not drink more than 48 oz (1½
quarts) per hour! Drinking too much water or other fluids
(sports drinks, energy drinks, etc.) can cause a medical
emergency because the concentration of salt in the blood
becomes too low.
Hydrate After Work
Most people need several hours to drink enough fluids to replace
what they have lost through sweat. The sooner you get
started, the less strain you place on your body from dehydration.
Hydrating after work is even more important if you work
in the heat on a regular basis. Chronic dehydration increases
the risk for a number of medical conditions, such as kidney
stones.
What to Drink and What to Avoid
Water is generally sufficient for hydration. Water will almost
always maintain hydration during work in the heat, as long as
you eat regular meals to replace salt lost in sweat.
NIOSH does
not recommend taking salt tablets. In most cases, salt can be
replaced by eating normal meals and snacks throughout the day.
Do not skip meals. The amount of caffeine in tea, coffee, and
soft drinks probably will not have an effect on overall hydration.
In general, eating regular meals with adequate water intake is
sufficient to maintain water and electrolyte balance. For prolonged
sweating lasting several hours, sports drinks with balanced electrolytes are another option to replace salt lost in sweat. Heavy
consumption of sports drinks will add unnecessary calories to
your diet due to the added sugar.
Avoid Energy Drinks:
• Some energy drinks contain much more caffeine than standard
servings of coffee, tea, or soft drinks.
• Drinking several energy drinks per day can raise your caffeine
levels enough to affect your heart. High caffeine levels can be
risky when added to the strain placed on your body by heat.
• Many energy drinks contain as much or more sugar as soft
drinks, which adds hundreds of extra calories to your diet.
today's News
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NSC Announces Recipients of Advanced Safety Certificate Scholarship for Military Veterans
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CM Labs and the USOLN Team Up to Make CUSP Recertification More Convenient
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Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Acquires Arrow Fire Protection
ATLANTA, GA -- Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, the fully integrated and full-service fire protection, life safety and security services provider, has acquired California-based Arrow Fire Protection. This move solidifies Pye-Barker's growing impact in California's critical fire protection industry, keeping people and property safe from fire and life safety risks.
EXAIR Partnering with University of Cincinnati Robotics Team
CINCINNATI, OH -- EXAIR has a long history of community engagement, particularly with the University of Cincinnati. Recently, an opportunity arose to help bring engineering dreams to life through the University of Cincinnati’s Combat Robotics Team.
