We are in the middle of incredible heat and humidity as the summer winds down in Wisconsin. This might not be a problem for those of you who have the luxury of working indoors with air conditioning. For thousands of others, the heat and humidity can wreak havoc on the work conditions when they are outside. Let’s take a look at how you can avoid heat exhaustion on the job in Saint Croix.
If you know you will be working outside in the heat, it’s best to drink 16 ounces of water at least 20 minutes before beginning your project. You should then drink another eight ounces of water every 20 minutes as you continue the work.
It’s important to note that drinking plain water quenches your thirst very quickly, which leads people to drink too little of it to stay hydrated. Your best bet is to drink flavored water. This will not quench your thirst too quickly, which means you will need to drink more of it, hopefully preventing you from becoming dehydrated.
You should never wear a hat when working outside. You might think it helps keep the sun off your head but it actually prevents heat from leaving your body through the scalp.
No matter how hot it is you should always wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) that is required for your job. It cannot protect you when you are not wearing it.
It doesn’t take much for an outdoor worker to be felled by heat exhaustion. There’s too much going on outside that can push your body to the limits. Make sure you drink plenty of water, take breaks and wear light clothing to keep the heat off your body as much as possible.