May 20, 2014
With summer just around the corner, the weather will be heating up in no time at all, making it an important time for outdoor workers to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of heat injuries, as well as measures they can take to prevent such injuries.
If injured workers end up sustaining heat stroke, heat exhaustion or any heat-related injuries on the job and they end up needing medical care/having to miss work for some period of time due to the
effects of these injuries, they may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, and they should consult with an experienced Denver workers’ compensation attorney like Jennifer Bisset to learn more about their rights.
Signs of Heat Injuries: Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
Heat injuries like heat exhaustion and heat stroke typically occur when a person’s body is unable to properly cool itself down due to excessive exertion in hot conditions coupled with dehydration (factors like alcohol consumption and overdressing can increase the risk of heat injuries under the above-mentioned conditions).
When hot weather and overexertion lead to heat exhaustion, workers will likely experience symptoms that can include any combination of:
- Heavy perspiration
- Fatigue and overall weakness
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea and/or headaches
- Skin that is cool and moist and/or that displays goose bumps (sensitivity) in the heat
- Dizziness, faintness and feelings of lightheadedness upon standing.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
If left unrecognized and untreated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, which has the potential to be life-threatening. Knowing the symptoms of heat stroke is critical to knowing when outdoor workers should get help and prevent potentially fatal complications.
Some of the specific signs of heat stroke may include any combination of:
- A body temperature of 104°F or greater
- Skin that feels hot and dry to the touch (While this is a common symptom of heat stroke induced by hot weather conditions, when heat stroke is caused by overexertion and strenuous activities, it may be marked by skin that is moist and cool to the touch.)
- Red, flushed skin
- Muscle cramps, weakness and (in more advanced stages of heat stroke) muscle rigidity or limpness
- Difficulty breathing, particularly in that breathing becomes rapid and shallow
- Disorientation, confusion and potentially even difficulty understanding what other people are saying
- Seizures, hallucinations and potentially the loss of consciousness
- Nausea and/or vomiting.
For more important information on heat exhaustion and heat stroke, don’t miss the upcoming second and third parts of this blog.
Denver Workers’ Compensation Lawyer at the Bisset Law Firm
Have you sustained heat exhaustion or heat stroke on the job? If so, Denver Workers’ Compensation Attorney Jennifer Bisset wants you to know that she is here to aggressively stand up for your rights and help you obtain the benefits to which you are entitled.
When you choose to work with the Bisset Law Firm, you can trust that we will work diligently to keep your case moving and that we will keep you advised of every development in your case. While this means that you can count on us to promptly return every one of your phone calls, it also means that we are committed to meeting all of your case deadlines in order to help you secure the maximum possible compensation for your injuries and losses.
Contact Us Today
Contact Denver Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Jennifer Bisset by calling (303) 894-8900 to learn more about your rights and receive a professional evaluation of your case.
