Heat Stress Prevention Training

At greatest risk of heat stroke are the elderly, children, and people with medical conditions, such as heart disease. However, even young and healthy individuals can succumb to heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather. Certain behaviors also put people at greater risk: drinking alcohol, taking part in strenuous outdoor physical activities in hot weather, and taking medications that impair the body’s ability to regulate its temperature or that inhibit perspiration. Heat stress can be induced by high temperatures, heavy work loads, and clothing inappropriate for the heat and humidity. The signs of heat stress are often overlooked by the victim. The individual may at first be confused or unable to concentrate, followed by more severe symptoms, such as fainting and/or collapsing. If heat stress symptoms occur, move the victim to a cool, shaded area, give him or her water, and immediately contact a supervisor or another individual to provide assistance.

People most at risk of heat-related illness

Anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, but those most at risk are:

• People over 65 years, particularly those living alone or without air conditioning
• Babies and young children
• Pregnant and nursing mothers
• People who are physically unwell, especially with heart disease, high blood pressure or lung disease
• People on medications for mental illness.

Elderly people are more prone to heat stress than younger people because their bodies may not adjust well to sudden or prolonged temperature change. They are also more likely to have a chronic medical condition and be taking medication that may interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature.

Causes of heat stress and heat-related illness

There are many factors which can cause heat stress and heat-related illness, including:

• Dehydration – to keep healthy, our body temperature needs to stay around 37°C. The body cools itself by sweating, which normally accounts for 70 to 80 percent of the body’s heat loss. If a person becomes dehydrated, they don’t sweat as much and their body temperature keeps rising.
• Lack of airflow – working in hot, poorly ventilated or confined areas.
• Sun exposure – especially on hot days, between 11am and 3pm.
• Hot and crowded conditions – people attending large events (concerts, dance parties or sporting events) in hot or crowded conditions may also experience heat stress that can result in illness.
• Bushfires – exposure to radiant heat from bushfires can cause rapid dehydration and heat-related illness. Bushfires usually occur when the temperature is high, which adds to the risk.

Prevention of heat-related illness

Prevention is the best way to manage the heat-related illness. Some tips to prevent heat stress include:

• Drink plenty of water – you need to drink more during hot weather, regardless of how active you are, even if you don't feel thirsty (check with your doctor if you are on limited fluids or fluid pills). Avoid alcohol or drinks that contain lots of sugar. Don’t have extremely cold liquids, as they may cause stomach cramps.
• Avoid exposure to heat – stay out of the sun as much as you can,
• Protect yourself outside – if you must be outdoors, remember to protect yourself from the sun – ‘slip, slop, slap’ by covering exposed skin with lightweight clothes, using sunscreen and wearing a hat, ‘seek’ shade and ‘slide’ on sunglasses.
• Plan ahead – too much activity on a hot day can lead to heat stress. If you can, restrict activity to cooler parts of the day. Avoid physical activities like sport, renovating and gardening.
• Don’t leave kids, older people or pets in cars – even on cool days, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. People or pets that are left unattended in parked cars for even a few minutes are at risk of serious heat-related illnesses and possibly death. Never leave kids, older people or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are left open a fraction.
• Take it easy – rest often and, whenever possible, stay indoors or in the shade.
• Stay cool – and keep air circulating around you. Draw your blinds or curtains and use a fan or air conditioning if possible (if you don’t have air conditioning, consider visiting an air-conditioned shopping centre or public library). Keep yourself cool by using wet towels, putting your feet in cool water and taking cool (not cold) showers.
• Keep up your energy levels – eat smaller meals more often and cold meals such as salads.
• Check in on others – keep in touch with older, sick or frail family, friends and neighbours who may need help coping with the heat, especially those who live alone. Call them at least once on any extreme heat day.

Things to remember

• Heat kills more Australians than any natural disaster.
• Heatstroke is fatal in up to 80% of cases.
• During the 2009 Victorian heatwave, the number of deaths increased by 374 people.
• Heat-related illness can be prevented.
• Keep cool, avoid vigorous physical activity in hot weather, and drink plenty of water and other non-alcoholic fluids.
• Never leave children or pets unattended in a parked car.
• Seek medical assistance if a person shows any signs of heat exhaustion or heatstroke.