Summertime and the living is easy... at least according to the old show tune. But summer’s severe weather can catch you off guard and leave you vulnerable to injury or death. Here are some safety tips to share with your workers for dealing with some of Mother Nature’s moods.

Lightning

You know what they say: You have a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning a multi-million dollar lottery. But take heart because here is some advice to keep you safe during lightning storms:

Ø      Stay indoors and away from electrical appliances. Avoid using phones or showers.

Ø      If caught outdoors, don’t stand near tall objects, such as trees or utility poles. If you’re in the open, drop to your knees and bend forward so your head is lower than your back (but don’t let your head touch the ground).

Ø      Stay away from open water and avoid metal objects, such as wire fences, golf carts, clotheslines, bicycles and farm equipment.

Heat Wave

During a heat wave, performing demanding physical work can be even more demanding. If you aren’t careful to avoid overstressing yourself and becoming dehydrated, you may be courting deadly consequences. In extreme cases, you could develop heat stroke, where your body stops sweating, your internal temperature skyrockets and you run the risk of dying.

It’s critical to know the symptoms of heat illness and to know preventive measures - including taking periodic rest breaks in cool areas and drinking plenty of water to stay well hydrated - before a serious situation develops.

Symptoms of heat illness include:

Ø      Dizziness

Ø      Headache

Ø      Weakness

Ø      Nausea

Ø      Confusion

Ø      Fainting

Ø      Irritability

Ø      Decreased urine output or dark urine

Ø      Pale or clammy skin

If you experience any of these symptoms or witness them in someone else, it’s important to get yourself or the victim to a cool, shady area, loosen or remove excess clothing and drink about a cup of cool water every 15 minutes. The victim should also be fanned or sprayed with cool water.

If the symptoms don’t improve, summon medical help without delay. If the situation progresses to heat stroke the person will stop sweating, likely have hot, red skin, possibly be severely irritable or confused and may suffer seizures or lapse into unconsciousness. Without medical help, the outcome can be fatal.

Conclusion

No matter what the season, Mother Nature can pack a punch. Next week, we’ll look at a couple of other summer weather surprises: hailstorms and tornadoes.

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