ASSOCIATIONS
13
Safety alert —
turn up the heat!
“I had the opportunity to work with a client on site for the day. We had a lot of work and
time went by very quickly, which was great. But it was only that evening that I realised how
hot it had been during the day; I had been burnt by the sun and had heatstroke.” – Worker
By IOPSA
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS?
Excessive exposure to heat can cause a range of heat-related
illnesses, from heat rash and heat cramps to heat exhaustion and
heatstroke. Heatstroke requires immediate medical attention and can
result in death. A heatwave can kill you directly by inducing heatstroke,
which damages the brain, the kidneys, and other organs. Or it can
increase your chances of succumbing to a heart condition or a stroke,
or experiencing breathing problems.
TELLTALE SIGNS
• Dry and hot skin.
• Person acting irrational and insane (usually with violent
inclinations).
• Muscle spasms and shivering.
• Long vacant stares (pupils of eyes dilated).
• No control of bladder or bowels.
• Collapsing and unconsciousness.
HOW CAN IT BE TREATED?
• Call the emergency services.
• Remove excess clothing and cool the person down with water
and/or by fanning.
• If the person is conscious, give small amounts of cool water to
drink.
• Keep person cool at all times.
• Use a wet towel over their forehead and neck.
• Elevate their feet.
• Let them rest until help arrives.
HOW TO AVOID IT?
1. Know the signs and symptoms
• When you know what to look for, you may be able to prevent
muscle cramps from accelerating to heat exhaustion or
heatstroke.
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
The above situation has likely happened many times to you, too, and
often gets forgotten once you are feeling better again. But the danger
of heatstroke is real, and during times when areas around South
Africa experience sweltering days, everyone should be on guard.
Illustration of first-, second-, and third-degree burns.
2. Monitor yourself and your companions
• Be diligent about watching for the signs of heat stress and treat
them immediately.
3. Block a direct heat source
• Shield yourself from the sun, open flames in hot weather, and
light, when you are suffering from heat stress. Use the shade as
much as possible.
4. Use cooling fans and air conditioners
• While you may be able to acclimatise to hot temperatures
outside, it is important to have cooling fans or air conditioning
indoors where the air is not moving, to aid in sweat evaporation.
A FEW EXTRA TIPS!
• Avoid the sun during peak hours of 10:00–14:00.
• Seek shade as much as possible.
• Wear clothing with ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). UPF 50+
helps block 98% of UVA/UVB rays.
• Wear sunglasses with UV protection.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Always apply sunscreen at least 15 minutes before going
outdoors, even on a cloudy day.
DON’T TAKE THE CHANCE!
Sunburn is not only painful, it is dangerous and comes with
consequences. Sunburn causes DNA damage to the skin,
accelerates skin ageing, and increases your lifetime skin cancer
risk. In fact, sustaining five or more sunburns in your youth
increases lifetime melanoma risk by 80%. PA
April 2019 Volume 25 I Number 2