summer safety

Heat-Related Illness

July 14, 2022 by Keely Knopp

For most, the summer months are a favored time to get outdoors and enjoy warm weather activities. However, rising heat during the summer months can pose a significant risk to workers who are exposed to soaring temperatures this time of year. Heat-related illnesses can affect workers in many industries, at both indoor and outdoor worksites, so employers need to be familiar with the dangers and preventative measures of hyperthermia to protect their employees.

Some job-related risk factors include:

Outdoor work in warm weather
Heat sources such as ovens, fires or hot tar
Strenuous physical activity
Heavy or non-breathable work clothes

When these or other heat hazards are present or expected in the workplace, employers should plan to protect workers accordingly: Consider creating and sharing a heat illness plan with supervisors and employees to ensure that everyone is aware of heat illness circumstances, symptoms and mitigation strategies. Here are a few things to keep in mind when coming up with your company’s specific plan:

Who will provide oversight on a daily basis?
What procedures can help acclimate new employees and build heat tolerance?
Temporary workers may be more susceptible to heat and require closer supervision.
Workers returning from extended leave (typically defined as more than two weeks) may also be at increased risk.
How can supervisors ensure that first aid is adequate?
What engineering controls and work practices will be used to reduce heat stress?
How will we determine if the total heat stress is hazardous?
What training will be provided to workers and supervisors?

Several types of heat-related illness can affect workers, and some of the symptoms are non-specific. This means that when a worker is performing physical labor in a warm environment, any unusual symptom can be a sign of overheating.

Heat-Related Illness	Symptoms and Signs
Heat stroke	• Confusion • Slurred speech • Unconsciousness • Seizures •Heavy sweating, or hot, dry skin • Very high body temperature • Rapid heart rate
Heat exhaustion	• Fatigue • Irritability • Thirst • Nausea or vomiting • Dizziness or lightheadedness • Heavy sweating •Elevated body temperature or fast heart rate
Heat rash	• Clusters of red bumps on skin, which often appear on neck, upper chest, and skin folds
Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown)	• Muscle pain • Dark urine or or reduced urine output • Weakness

Employers and workers should become familiar with these heat-related symptoms, and when any of these symptoms are present, promptly provide first aid. Time is of the essence, as these conditions can worsen quickly and result in serious injuries or even fatality.

Remember: When in doubt, help cool down the worker and call 911.

Other first aid suggestions for suspected heat illness include:

Taking the affected worker to a cooler area (such as a shaded or air conditioned space).
Cooling off the worker immediately with ice or cool water.
Removing the outer layers of clothing, especially heavy protective clothing.
Placing ice or cold, wet towels on the head, neck, trunk, armpits, and groin.
Using fans to circulate air around the worker.
Staying with the affected worker. Never leave someone with heat-related illness alone, as symptoms can worsen rapidly.
Calling 911 if symptoms do not improve.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA

Tips for a safe Fourth of July

June 29, 2022 by Keely Knopp

No summer season is complete without a good cookout, time spent outdoors — and the use of dazzlingly dangerous explosives. But just as quickly as they light up the night sky, fireworks can turn a joyful celebration into a panicked frenzy or painful memory when someone gets injured (or something gets destroyed) in the process.

Every Fourth of July, urgent care centers and emergency rooms are full of stories of failed firework fun — but, this year, Mercy Urgent Care wants to get ahead of the game, ensuring that your Fourth doesn’t end in a trip to your nearest clinic.

First of all, before using fireworks, make sure they are permitted in your state or local area. North Carolina, in particular, is notoriously strict on the use of common fireworks, including all types of aerial displays, including roman candles and bottle rockets. Other illegal fireworks in North Carolina include firecrackers, snakes, airplanes and other ground-spinners.

Fireworks that are legal in North Carolina include poppers, sparklers and fountains. Essentially, if it leaves the ground, you shouldn’t have it at your backyard barbecue in the state of N.C.

But just in case you come into contact with too powerful a popper, here are some tips and recommendations to ensure a safe-yet-sparkly Fourth:

Do not allow young children to play with fireworks — and, yes, that means sparklers too. Often considered a “safe” firework for kids, sparklers burn at extremely high temperatures (1,200 degrees and up) and should be not be handled by young children, who may not understand the danger or act appropriately while holding a sparkler or in an emergency situation. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, sparklers account for 1/4 of all emergency room or urgent care fireworks injuries.
Closely watch your teens and preteens when explosives are involved. Older children should only use fireworks under close adult supervision. Do not allow any running or horseplay in the vicinity of fireworks.
Crouch, don’t lean over. Never have any portion of your body directly over a firework while lighting.
Check your surroundings for flammable material. Set off fireworks outdoors in a clear area, away from houses, dry leaves or grass and other flammable materials.
Think ahead. Be prepared. Keep a bucket of water nearby for emergencies and for pouring on fireworks that fail to ignite or explode.
Don’t mess with the duds. If it’s not working properly, that means it may be dangerous. Do not try to relight or handle malfunctioning fireworks. Soak them with water and throw them away.
Double-check your surroundings one last time before lighting the fuse. In addition to structures, dry leaves and grass, be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
If it can tip over, shatter or produce shrapnel, it’s not a launch pad. Never light fireworks in a container, especially a glass or metal container.
Keep unused fireworks away from firing areas. And, when not in use, store fireworks in a cool, dry place — or check for special storage instructions.
Always purchase fireworks from a lawful, licensed business. Never, ever experiment with homemade fireworks.

And, aside from firework fun, be sure to keep grills safe by:

using your grill away from your home and deck railings and away from any overhangs or tree branches.
opening the hood of gas grills before lighting.
ensuring the grill’s trays and catches are free of grease, fat buildup and other flammable debris.
keeping a 3-foot kid- and pet-free zone around the grill at all times.

Be safe, Western North Carolina — and have a happy, healthy Fourth of July!

Sun and heat safety tips for healthy summer fun

June 21, 2019 by Hayley Benton

Western North Carolina is known for its mountain scenery — its canopies of green that provide shade for outdoor adventurers. And, although we’re far from a sunny, tropical isle, it’s important to remember: We’re not immune to the effects of the stifling summer sun.

As summer begins and the temperature turns up in the Asheville area, Mercy Urgent Care urges you to keep your cool, whether you’re hard at work in the sunshine or floating down the French Broad River.

How much sun is too much sun?

More than 1.3 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States — and sun exposure, by far, is the No. 1 culprit for developing the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes — and, in addition to skin cancer, sun damage can lead to painful sunburns, premature skin aging and skin damage.

Though prolonged sun exposure can be harmful to everyone, people with blonde or red hair, blue or green eyes, fair skin, freckles and moles are especially susceptible to the sun’s harmful rays. People of all skin tones, however, must take proper precautions and protect their skin to help prevent skin damage and skin cancer.

Certain medications — such as antibiotics, antidepressants and retinoid-based acne medications — can also increase an individual’s sensitivity to the sun.

While many have felt the painful sting of a mild to moderate sunburn, the sun is capable of causing severe skin burns that produce large blisters, cause abdominal cramping, weakness, flulike symptoms, fever or chills, headache and a rapid pulse rate.

Reducing harmful sun exposure:

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. In addition to every point below, you should always apply sunscreen before spending time outdoors — even on cool or cloudy days. Use sunscreens with an SPF of at least 15. SPF numbers indicate the product’s effectiveness at blocking UV rays, with higher numbers meaning higher rates of protection. And remember: Sunscreen wears off, especially if you’re sweating, swimming or toweling off, so reapplication is necessary if you’re outside for two or more hours.

Seek out shade. Reduce your risk of skin damage by finding shade outdoors — whether that means taking an umbrella on your tubing adventure or standing under a leaf-laden tree.

Wear protective clothing. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants, hats and sunglasses go a long way in protecting the skin (and the eyes) from UV rays. Hats with wide brims that encircle the head offer the best protection, shading your face, ears and the back of your neck. Even with protective clothing, you should still apply sunscreen if spending prolonged periods of time outdoors, as the typical T-shirt has an SPF rating lower than 15.

What about heat illnesses?

So you’ve applied SPF 100 and you’re sporting a wide-brimmed hat. What could go wrong?

Even in the mountains, summer heat is no joke. Every year in the United States, around 400 deaths are attributed to excessive natural heat. These deaths are all preventable. Heat-related illnesses occur when the body fails to cool itself after being exposed to high temperatures, resulting in illnesses like heat rash, sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke, listed in order from mild to severe.

Think of your body as a hard-working machine. The harder it works, the more heat is produced. It comes equipped with processes to cool itself down, but the system can malfunction when overworked — especially when outside influences like high temperatures, humidity and certain medications are thrown into the mix.

Know the symptoms:

When the body begins to overheat, it sends out signals to let you know. Early symptoms of heat-related illnesses include fatigue, heavy sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea and a high pulse rate. Patients may begin to feel faint or weak, develop muscle cramps and notice clamminess of the skin.

As heat-related illnesses progresses, an individual may begin to experience life-threatening symptoms, such as a high body temperature, confusion, convulsions or fainting. Due to severe dehydration, patients may also have red, hot and dry skin.

Preventing heat illnesses:

It’s especially important to pay attention to your body when exposed to excessive heat. Knowing and watching for the symptoms of heat-related illnesses is part of the prevention process, but there are ways to avoid feeling ill altogether:

Stay well-hydrated (with the right beverages). Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty — and avoid caffeine, sugary drinks and alcohol. These drinks affect the body’s temperature even without excess heat, speeding up the heart rate, elevating blood pressure and causing the body to dehydrate faster. Staying hydrated helps the body to sweat, and sweat is your natural defense against heat.

Wear the right clothing and protect against sunburn. It’s important to minimize the skin’s exposure to the sun, but it’s also vital to allow it to breathe. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, sunglasses, bandannas, wide-brimmed hats and sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. The key is to find a breathable balance, allowing sweat to easily evaporate, while also protecting the skin from sunburn, which adversely affects the body’s ability to cool itself. Excessive clothing or equipment decreases the body’s tolerance for heat. Sunscreen should be reapplied at least every two hours — more often if swimming or sweating.

Pace yourself or change your schedule. Whether you’re working or adventuring, allow yourself frequent breaks in the shade or in air conditioned buildings. Taking breaks allows the body to recover and cool itself between bouts of heat exposure. This is especially important during the hottest parts of the day, when the sun is directly overhead. If at all possible, try to schedule exercise or outdoor work in the early mornings or evenings.

Take note of personal factors and medication side effects. Unfortunately, some people are more susceptible to heat illnesses than others, and it’s especially important for those individuals to recognize the increased threat. Small children and adults over 65 have an increased risk, as well as those with chronic conditions — or individuals who are not used to hot weather. Many medications also affect the body’s ability to tolerate high temperatures, stay hydrated and dissipate heat. If you take any medications, be aware of the side effects andkeep a watchful eye on your body. If you do have an increased risk of heat illness, notify others in your group. Run through a list of early symptoms with those around you, and make sure they know what to do in case of emergency.

Treating heat illness:

If you or someone you know is experiencing the early symptoms of a heat-related illness, immediately stop all activity, move to a cooler place to rest and sip water or an electrolyte replenishing sports drink. For individuals experiencing heat exhaustion, loosen any clothing items, place cool, wet cloths on the body or take a cool bath.

If the individual begins to vomit, has a history of heart problems or experiences worsening or prolonged symptoms, seek medical help right away.

For severe symptoms that may indicate heat stroke — such as fainting, high fever, confusion, dry skin and a fast, strong pulse — call 911 right away. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, and can be fatal without medical intervention. While waiting for medical professionals, move the individual to a cooler place, remove excess clothing and help lower the body temperature by whatever means available, concentrating ice packs or cool, wet cloths around the neck, armpits and groin. If the person is not alert or is vomiting, do not give him or her anything to drink.