OSHA has joined forces with the National Institute for Occupation Safety and Healthy to update its Heat Safety Tool. The smartphone app for iPhone and Android is also a helpful addition to OSHA’s Heat Illness Prevention campaign, first launched in 2011.
Workers can use the updated app to learn about heat stroke and how to avoid getting it on the job. It provides a real-time heat index and hourly forecast based on the user’s location. This information allows workers and employers to plan and adjust schedules accordingly. If a worker suspects heat-related illness, there is also first-aid information built into the app.
Heat stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when the body gets so hot that it loses its temperature-regulating abilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), body temperature can rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes of heat stroke. If not treated, this can cause permanent damage or death.
Each summer, more than 65,000 Americans seek medical treatment for heat-related illness. That number is likely to grow as climate change brings more extreme heat events that last longer.
To keep safe, workers should be aware of the signs and symptoms, as well as when to seek medical aid.
Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke
- Extremely high body temperature (over 104°F)
- Mental confusion or slurred speech
- Skin that feels hot and dry
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fast heart rate
- Skin color that becomes red
- Headache
For more information on heat stroke and sun protection visit: American Academy of Dermatology
Heat Stress – Heat Related Illness
Heatstroke Prevention
