Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion is caused by the loss of large amounts of fluid. This can happen by sweating and sometimes with an extensive loss of salt. An employee suffering from heat exhaustion still sweats, but may also experience the following symptoms:
- Cool, moist skin, heavy sweating
- General weakness
- Headache, dizziness, or irritability
- Thirst, nausea or vomiting
- Fast heart beat
These workers are working in the heat and need to be drinking water during their work break.
Treatment. If a worker experiences heat exhaustion, employers should:
- have the worker lie down or sit in a cool or shady area;
- have the worker drink plenty of cool liquids, preferably a sports drink with carbohydrates and electrolytes;
- spray water or apply cool, wet cloths to the worker's head and torso;
- use a fan to speed evaporation and lower the body temperature; and
- have the worker evaluated by medical staff if symptoms do not improve within an hour.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-4. Which situation causes heat exhaustion?
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