Summer Safety

Covering Some of the

Hazards of the Summer
Months
What are the Hazards of Summer?
● Sun exposure ● Allergies
● Heat related illnesses ● Wildfires
● Severe Storms ● Poisonous Plants
● Tornadoes ● Poisonous Animals
● Lightning Storms ● Interference with
● Insects PPE
● Stinging Insects ● Fatigue and
Exhaustion
 The Rising Temperatures
● As temperatures rise, so does the stress on
your body.
● Two critical actions can help you battle the
heat.
–Acclimation to the heat.
–Consumption of water.
● These two actions can help the most.
Your Body is a Good Regulator of
Heat
● Your body reacts to heat by circulating blood
and raising your skin's temperature. The
excess heat is then released through the skin
by sweating.
● Physical activity can limit the amount of blood
that flows to the skin to release heat.
Your Body is a Good Regulator of
Heat
● Sweating can also maintain a stable body
temperature if the humidity level is low
enough to permit evaporation and if the
fluids and salts you lose are adequately
replaced.
● When your body cannot release heat, it
stores it. This raises your core temperature
and heart rate putting your health at risk.
Interfering with the Regulator
● Many factors can cause unbalances in your
body’s ability to handle heat.
–Age
–Weight
 –Fitness
–Medical condition
–Diet
Summer Heat
● Heat stress is a serious hazard in the workplace as well
as at home.
● Excessive heat can place an abnormal stress on your
body.
● When your body temperature rises even a few
degrees above normal (which is about 98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit) you can experience
–muscle cramps
–become weak
–disoriented
–dangerously ill
Six Factors of Heat Stress
● Temperature
● Humidity
● Movement of Air or lack of air movement
● The radiant temperature of the surroundings
● Clothing
● Physical activity
Heat Stress-Early Sign of Trouble
● Heat Stress will reduce your work capacity and
efficiency.
● Signs of heat stress include:
–Tiredness
–Irritability
–Inattention
–Muscular cramps.
Heat Stress-Early Sign of Trouble
● If you are: (Cont.)

–Overweight
 –Physically unfit
–Suffer from heart conditions
–Drink too much alcohol
–Are not used summer temperatures
● You may be at greater risk of heat stress and
should seek and follow medical
advice.
Heat Rash- Another Early Sign of
Trouble
● Also known as prickly heat, occurs when people
are constantly exposed to hot and humid air,
causing a rash that can substantially reduce the
ability to sweat.
● Heat rash is not just a nuisance because of
discomfort, but by reducing the ability to
sweat, the ability to tolerate heat is reduced.

Heat Rash and Heat Stress

● First Aid for Heat Rash
 –Cleanse the affected area thoroughly and
dry completely.
–Calamine or other soothing lotion may
help relieve the discomfort.
● First Aid for Heat Stress
–Good nutrition
–Become Heat acclimated
–Drink lots of fluids
 Heat Cramps- Final Warning
● May occur after prolonged exposure to heat.

● They are the painful intermittent spasms of the

abdomen and other voluntary muscles.

● Heat Cramps usually occur after heavy sweating and

may begin towards the end of the workday.
 Heat Cramps- First Aid
● Firstaid for heat cramps will vary. The best
care is:
–Rest
–Move to a cool environment
–Drink plenty of water- No pop,
sparkling water, or Alcohol.
–Electrolyte fluids such as Gatorade or
Sqwincher may also be used.
Heat Exhaustion- Time Running Out
● May result from physical exertion in hot environments.

● Symptoms may include: – Dizziness

– Profuse sweating – Nausea

– Weakness – Headache
 – Paleness of the skin – Vomiting – Rapid pulse

– Unconsciousness.

● The skin is cool and clammy with sweat. Body

temperature may be normal or subnormal.
Heat Exhaustion- What Happened
● Heat exhaustion develops when a person fails
to replace fluids and salt that are lost through
sweating.
● You may start to experience extreme
weakness, fatigue, giddiness, nausea or a
headache as heat exhaustion progresses.

Heat Exhaustion- First Aid

● Rest in the shade or cool place.
● Drink plenty of water (preferred) or electrolyte
fluids.
● Loosen clothing to allow for your body to cool.
● Use cool wet rags to aid cooling.

Heat Stroke- Your Out of Time

● This is a serious medical condition that urgently
requires medical attention.
● Sweating is diminished or absent, which makes
the skin hot and dry.
● Body temperature is very high (106 degrees F.
and rising).
Heat Stroke- Signs and Symptoms
● Mental confusion ● Convulsions or
● Delirium coma
● Chills ●A body temperature
● Dizziness of 105 degrees F or
higher ● Loss of
consciousness ● Hot, dry skin that
may be red, mottled
or bluish
● A strong fast pulse.
Heat Stroke- Rapid Response
● If you suspect someone is suffering from heat
stroke, call an ambulance immediately.
● Their condition will rapidly deteriorate.
● You must make a provide care immediately.
 Heat Stroke- First Aid
● This is a Medical Emergency!!
● Brain damage and death are possible.
● Until medical help arrives, move the victim
from the heat and into a cool place.
 Heat Stroke- First Aid
● You must use extreme caution when soaking
clothing or applying water to a victim. Shock
may occur if done to quickly or with too cool
of water
● Soak his or her clothes with water and use a
fan or ice packs.
● Douse the body continuously with a cool
liquid and summon medical aid immediately.
 The Heat Index
● The
heat index table was developed by the
Weather Service.
NOTE: When the air temperature is above 80 degrees F. and the relative humidity is above 40%
the temperature the body experiences is greater than the air temperature.

Soaking in the Sun

● The power of the sun can feel good when
emerging from the Winter blahs.
● Caution must be observed when exposure to
the sun is frequent and intense.
● Health conditions and problems can arise
from too much sun exposure.
 Common Sun Related Health
Problems- Skin Cancer
● Exposure to UV radiation can lead to skin
cancer. The three most common:
–Basal Cell
–Squamous Cell
–Melanoma
 Common Sun Related Health
● Receiving one or two blistering sunburns
before the age of 18 at least doubles an
individual's risk for developing melanoma.
(AAD, 1994).

Problems- Eye Damage

● Eye Damage from UV radiation
● Long exposure to sunlight can lead to eye
problems later in life, such as cataracts.
 Common Sun Related Health
● Another potential effect of UV radiation is
a "burning" of the eye surface, called "
snow blindness" or photokeratitis from
sunlight.
Problems- Eye Damage
● Snow Blindness effects usually disappear
within a couple of days, but may lead to
further complications later in life.
 Common Sun Related Health
● UVB damage to the eyes is also
cumulative, so it is never too late for
people to start protecting their eyes.

Problems- Premature Aging

● Repeated exposure to the sun can cause
premature aging effects.
 Common Sun Related Health
● Sun-induced skin damage causes wrinkles
and furrows, easy bruising, brown or “liver
spots” on the skin.
● Because this exposure in cumulative,
protection can never be to late.

Problems- Immune System

● Scientists believe sunburns can alter the
distribution and function of disease-fighting
 Common Sun Related Health
white blood cells in humans for up to 24 hours
after exposure to the sun.
● Repeated overexposure to UV radiation can
cause more damage to the body's immune
system.
● Mild sunburns can directly suppress the
immune functions of human skin where the
sunburn occurred, even in people with dark
skin. (http://www.nsc.org/ehc/sunwise/health.htm#skin)
 Let’s Talk About The Sting of
Summer
● With increased temperatures, many
insects become very active.
● Often these insects are just a nuisance, but
these insects can cause many health
related problems.
 The Stinging Insects
● Common Ones: ● Some Uncommon
–Bees Ones in this area: –
–Wasps Caterpillers
–Hornets –Centipedes
–Yellow Jackets –Black Widow Spider
–Fire Ants (in –Brown Recluse or
southeastern US) Fiddleback Spider
 The Common Problems
● Over 2 million people are allergic to stinging
insects.
● An allergic reaction to an insect sting can occur
immediately, within minutes, or even hours after
the sting (although never more than 24 hrs).
● People who have experienced a systemic allergic
reaction to an insect sting have a 60% chance of a
similar (or worse) reaction if stung again.
 How to Prevent Stinging
Attacks
● Stinging insects are especially attracted to
–sweet fragrances (perfumes,
colognes, and hair sprays)
–picnic food
–open soda and beer
containers –garbage areas.
● Avoiding these attractants will lessen a
person's chance of being stung.
The Sting of Anaphylaxis
● Anaphylaxis is the medical term for an allergic reaction.
● The only treatment to an allergic reaction is the use of
epinephrine and other treatments.
– Epinephrine can be self-injected or administered by a
doctor.
● Often intravenous fluids, oxygen, and other treatments are
necessary as well.
● It is very important to call for medical assistance
immediately, even if the person says “I am okay” after
administering epinephrine.

First Aid May Not Be Enough

● Once stabilized you may be required to stay
overnight at the hospital under close
observation.
● People who have had previous allergic
reactions and rely on the protection of
epinephrine must remember to carry it with
them wherever they go.
● Also, because one dose may not be enough to
reverse the reaction, immediate medical
attention following an insect sting is
recommended.
Some Symptoms of an Allergic
Reaction
● Hives, itching, and swelling in areas other
than the sting site.
● Tightness in the chest and difficulty in
breathing.
● Hoarse voice or swelling of the tongue.
● Dizziness or a sharp drop in blood pressure.
● Unconsciousness or cardiac arrest.
 Basic First Aid for Stings
● Bees will sting only once leaving the barbed
stinger in the flesh.
–To remove the stinger scrap with a credit
card or other object.
–DO NOT pinch and pull out the stinger,
this will inject more venom.
● Wasps, hornets and yellow jackets
repeatedly sting leaving no stinger behind.
Other Animal or Insect
Hazards
● Poisonous Animals such as
–Snakes
–Scorpions
● Are also prevalent during the Summer
Months
● Also disease carrying insects such as
mosquitoes and ticks are prevalent.
A Little about Ticks
● Can carry a wide variety of diseases.
● Ticks contract these diseases from the host
they attach to.
● Some common diseases are: –Lyme Disease
–Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
● Most diseases are common to specific
species of tick.
Insect Protection
● Two primary repellants are used by most
insect repellants. They are:
–Insecticide permethrin
 –Insect repellent deet (N, N-diethyl-
mtiluarnide)
● It is important that each individual be
carefully monitored when using either of
these products.
● As with any chemical, allergic reactions can
develop from the protectant.
 How DEET Works
● Deet repellents works by evaporation,
creating a shield a few inches above the
area of application.
● The presence of the repellent vapor
confuses insects so they can’t locate a
target host.
● In most cases it usually requires less than
1% of the repellent to form this protective
barrier.
How Permethrin Works
● Permethrin is actually a contact
insecticide.
● Permethrin is considered ideal because it
is applied to clothing, gear, mosquito nets
 and bedding and is not applied directly on
the body.
● Where ticks are a concern, permethrin on
clothing or gear will kill ticks that travel
across as little as 10" of treated fabric.

Any
Questions
???