Heat can be a dangerous thing for a farmer.
It can cause direct harm if you get so hot that your body can't handle it. It can also add
to your overall stress load. Stress can be a big contributor to accidents, and that's even
more true when you can hardly see because of the sweat dripping into your eyes.
How can you stay safe and keep your help safe
during hot weather? By doing what you can to keep cool, and by being extra aware of the
hazards around you. Here are some ideas.
- Get set for safety. When you're
stressed by heat, you don't always think about safety basics. Before you head into the
hot, busy summer, make sure you're set for safety (see box).
- Drink plenty of water. To stay
healthy in hot weather, drink lots of water -- at least eight large glasses a day, more if
you're really working up a sweat. To tell if you're drinking enough, check the color of
your urine. If it's dark, drink more water.
- Wear cool clothes. Light-colored,
loose-fitting clothing made of natural fibers such as cotton will help you stay cool.
Socks made of materials such as Polypropylene™ and Thermax™ will help your feet
stay cool and dry. A wide-brimmed hat can help you stay comfortable, too.
- Take time to cool off. Splash
yourself with water occasionally. Take breaks in the shade. Five minutes spent cooling off
may be five minutes you're not getting stuff done. But it's a lot less time off than a run
into the emergency room -- or a lifetime in a wheelchair if you suffer from an accident
related to being stressed by heat.
- Watch for heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition in which your body loses its ability to control
its own temperature. Your pulse races, you stop sweating, you may get dizzy, your body
temperature soars. To give first aid to a person with heatstroke, cool them down with a
cold water bath until their temperature drops to 101°F (oral) and massage their body to
keep blood circulating. Get to a doctor immediately. If distant from a hospital, wrap the
person in a cold, wet sheet or wet the person's clothing with cool water.
- Plan around the heat. You already
plan your day around the rain forecast. Think about the heat forecast, too. Avoid
strenuous work if it's super hot. The term for doing hard physical labor in extreme heat
when you could save it for a cooler day is not "macho." It's "stupid."
- Watch the sweat factor. Sweat is
good because as it evaporates it helps cool your skin. But it can also make your hands
slippery and impede your vision. Be alert to these possibilities and be extra careful when
performing everyday tasks when you're sweaty.
- Quit while you're ahead.
Heat exhaustion occurs when you are low on water and electrolytes.
Symptoms are cold, clammy skin and a slowed pulse. If you think
you might have heat exhaustion, stop working. If you start feeling
dizzy or sick to your stomach, get out of the sun, drink lots of
fluids, and take it easy the rest of the day. You've had too much.
- Watch your workers. Your help,
whether hired hands or family members, may hesitate to slow down for the heat because they
don't want you to think they're wimps. Give them permission to take care of their health
and safety by adjusting their (and your) expectations in hot weather.
|
