Data trends indicate Wisconsin is becoming warmer, and extreme heat events will become more prevalent and last longer. It is critical for everyone, but especially agricultural workers and other outdoor laborers, the elderly, children less than five years old, athletes, people with chronic health conditions and people of low-income status to know the symptoms and how to prevent and treat heat related illnesses.^3,8

Evaporation or sweat, conduction when one’s body contacts something cooler, convection where air flows over a person to remove heat, and radiation such as when heat is released to the air are all various ways the human body tries to cool itself.¹Some populations are at more at risk due to their age or have other health issues which may affect their body’s ability to cool itself, especially when working outdoors for extended periods of time without sufficient rest, water and cooling breaks.

Heat-related illnesses include heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat rash is caused by excessive sweating that blocks the sweat ducts and causes the skin to develop red bumps and blisters with itching. If heat rash occurs, it is important to remove the person from the heat and to avoid sun exposure. ^{5, 7,8} If the rash does not improve, a health care provider should be contacted.

Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms in the stomach, arms, or legs caused by dehydration and loss of body salts. Heat cramps can be treated by going to a cooler location, removing excess clothing, and drinking a clear, sports beverage. If the cramps last longer than one hour, a health care provider should be contacted.^{5, 7,8}

Heat exhaustion is due to a severe loss of water and body salts with symptoms of excessive sweating, weakness, rapid breathing, headache, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, cramps, and a fever up to 104°F. Find shade or an air-conditioned location, lie down, place ice packs or cold compresses along the back of the neck and under the arm pits, and drink cool sports drinks. Seek medical attention due to the possibility of heat stroke if the person’s body is not able to regulate their body temperature. ^{5, 7,8}

A heat stroke is a life-threatening condition with symptoms of a high fever (above 104°F), confusion, loss of consciousness, fast pulse, dry, red and hot skin, headache, slurred speech, seizures, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms require an immediate call to 9-1-1 for emergency medical attention while moving the person to a shaded area, covering them in cool, wet cloths, and slightly raising their head and shoulders. ^{5, 7,8}

National Hydration Day is Wednesday, June 23^{rd 5} It is important to prevent heat-related issues by drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration. ^5,6,7,8

Be sure to drink water and plenty of fluids throughout the day. Drink one cup of non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic cool fluids every 15 minutes even before filling thirsty, take 15-minute breaks from the sun and heat every two hours. In addition, never stay in a parked car, keep living spaces cool, slow down physical activity, wear lightweight and light-colored clothing, and take a cool shower or bath. ^{5,7, 8}

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Heat Safety Tool app provides hourly information about the day’s heat index and risks specific to a farmer’s location, along with first-aid information for heat related illnesses.⁴

Using prevention strategies and being able to identify signs of heat-related illness to act quickly is critically important to prevent heat-related illnesses and fatalities for farmers, outdoor workers, and other at-risk folks! Stay hydrated this summer!

References:

¹Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (n.d.) Heat stress prevention campaigns.

https://afop.org/health-safety/heat-stress-prevention/

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Heat-related deaths among crop workers --- United States, 1992—2006. 57(24): 649-653.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5724a1.htm

³Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). Natural disasters and severe weather. Protecting vulnerable groups from extreme heat. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/specificgroups.html

⁴Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018).  OSHA-NIOSH heat safety tool app. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatapp.html

⁵ Heat-related illnesses and agricultural producers. (2012). Farm and ranch eXtension in safety and health (FReSH) community of practice. http://www.extension.org/pages/62261/heat-related-illnesses-and-agricultural-producers

⁶ National Day. (2017-2022). National hydration day.  https://nationaltoday.com/national-hydration-day/

⁷Ready.gov. (2020). Extreme heat. https://www.ready.gov/heat

⁸Wisconsin Climate and Health Program. (2019). Extreme heat toolkit: A planning guide for public health and emergency response professionals [PDF file]. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p0/p00632.pdf