Coping with the heat on construction jobs

It's obvious that heat on outside construction jobs can be a challenge, and maybe the answers about coping with the recent heat on constructions are also obvious. But it's also a good reminder to everyone to take care with their outdoor activities during these sometimes oppressive heat periods.

decorahnews.com observed the Bruening Rock Products crew working on sidewalks associated with the Short Street improvement project. Their strategies included plenty of water, extra breaks, and taking it a bit easier than usual. But maybe the best advice is what the supervisor noted about the work crews – "they are pretty good about watching out for themselves." That reminds us that it is pretty easy to overdo it and neglect the signs of heat related health problems.

Heat exhaustion symptoms include profuse sweating, weakness, muscle cramps, headache, nausea and vomiting. The best idea is prevention, but rehydration and cooling is the first response.

Heat stroke, an  exaggerated form of  hyperthermia is a true medical emergency that is often fatal if not properly and promptly treated. Heat stroke includes severely elevated body temperature, the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, disorientation, seizure, and/or coma.  Cooling the victim is a critical step in the treatment of heat stroke. Always notify emergency services immediately.

(Source: MedicineNet)