Every summer, I like to get out and have fun in the sun. Many of my favorite childhood memories are set in the summertime — swimming, fishing, boating, going to the beach, and playing volleyball.
As I got older, the heat started to affect me more and more. I found myself not wanting to go out as much in the summer and seeking shade every chance I got. Later, I learned about the effects of the sun and how it can affect your health for the better and also for the worse, depending on how much you are exposed to its rays. I remember wondering how anybody could have a stroke from staying out too long in the heat. Why wouldn’t they simply move to a cooler place and drink water?
These questions puzzled me until my first summer hauling hay for an old farmer. Some kids and I used to spend hours hauling hay and throwing it up on the truck, and then taking it back to the barns and stacking it neatly in rows. That old farmer worked us like one of his farm animals. Actually, I believe the livestock had it a little better because they could hang around the watering trough.
One thing I learned that summer is it’s very possible to overdo it, experience heat exhaustion, or worse. I remember how the farmer would not let us take breaks even to drink water, and we only worked one summer for him based on how he treated us. It seemed that if you weren’t willing to kill yourself for that farmer, then you were not a good worker.
This attitude permeated my early working career. I thought if I pushed myself to the limit, then people would say I was a hard worker and reward me accordingly. This thought pattern changed the day I first experienced heat exhaustion. On the hottest day of the summer, I found myself shivering from fever and chills in the back of a van because I could not regulate my body temperature. This was a scary event in my life, and I swore to myself and my family that I would never again let any job push me to the point of hurting myself. No matter how tough you are, you will never be able to reckon with the heat from the sun if not properly prepared.
Below are a few recommendations that the experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/extremeheat/index.html) recommend.
- Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as you can
- Do not rely on a fan as your main cooling device during an extreme heat event.
- Even young and healthy people can get sick from the heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.
- Limit your outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest.
- Wear and reapply sunscreen as indicated on the package.
- Start activities slow and pick up the pace gradually.
- Drink more water than usual, and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more.
- Make sure to hydrate the night before a long day in the heat.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Check on the health of your fellow workers and have someone do the same for you.
- Seek medical care immediately if you or a someone else has symptoms of heat-related illness.
Electrical work can be dangerous even without the risk of overexposure to heat. Protect yourself and your coworkers during these times of elevated temperatures.
Talbot is a licensed, master electrician in Georgia, where he was born and raised. He has been in the industry for 19 years and is currently the operations manager for Mister Sparky Atlanta, where he oversees a team of technicians. In his spare time, he plays with his kids, volunteers, and enjoys flipping houses. He can be reached at [email protected].
