Heat Illness Prevention

At VUSD, we are committed to the safety and well-being of our employees. Heat-related illnesses are medical conditions caused by exposure to high environmental temperatures. These range from mild conditions such as heat rash, heat cramps, and heat syncope (fainting), to more serious cases like heat exhaustion and the potentially life-threatening heat stroke. Through awareness, training, and preventative measures, we aim to ensure all employees stay safe while working in hot conditions.

Heat Rash

Heat Rash, also known as prickly heat, is likely to occur in hot, humid environments where sweat is not easily removed from the surface of the skin by evaporation, and the skin remains wet most of the time.

Signs & Symptoms:

Skin redness and pain
Possible swelling
Blisters
Fever
Headaches

First Aid:

Take a shower using mild soap
Apply dry, sterile dressings to any blisters
Seek medical attention

Heat Cramps

Heat cramps are painful spasms of the muscles that occur among those who sweat profusely in heat and drink large quantities of water, but do not adequately replace the body's salt loss.

Signs & Symptoms:

Painful Spasms usually in the leg and abdominal muscles
Heavy Sweating

First Aid:

Move victim to a cooler location
Lightly stretch and gently massage affected muscles
Give sips of up to a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes
Discontinue liquids if victim is nauseated

Heat Syncope (Fainting)

Heat syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness (fainting) that occurs due to prolonged standing or sudden rising from a sitting or lying position in a hot environment. It’s caused by a drop in blood pressure and reduced blood flow to the brain, often resulting from dehydration and pooling of blood in the legs due to heat.

Signs & Symptoms:

Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fainting (temporary loss of consciousness)
Pale, cool, and moist skin
Weak pulse
Nausea
Fatigue
Blurred vision or tunnel vision
Sweating (though not always present)

First aid:

Rest/lie person in cool area
Drink water (only if conscious)
Recovery should be rapid

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a severe heat illness and is caused by the loss of large amounts of fluid by sweating, sometimes with excessive loss of salt.

Signs & Symptoms:

Heavy sweating
Weak pulse
Body temperature is normal or slightly higher
Fainting, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and headaches

First aid:

Move victim into shade
Loose and remove clothing
Cool the victim (wet cloth, spray mist)
Have victim slowly drink water
Seek medical aid immediately if vomiting occurs

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke, the most serious heat illness, is failure of the body's internal mechanism to regulate it's core temperature.

Signs & Symptoms:

Body temperature rise to fatal levels
Hot, red, dry skin
Rapid, weak pulse
Rapid shallow breathing
No sweating
Possible unconsciousness

First aid:

Call 9-1-1 for emergency help immediately
Move victim into shade
Loosen or remove outer clothing
Lower body temperature (massage body with ice or damp cloth)
Watch for breathing problems

DO NOT leave employee unattended

Emergency Response

When heat illness occurs:

Call 9-1-1 for emergency medical help
Tell the dispatcher this is a heat related illness
If the individual is an employee, notify their supervisor
The supervisor must complete a Supervisor's investigation report and contact the Company Nurse at 1-877-518-6702.

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