May 24, 2014
Picking up where Preventing Heat Injuries in the Summer: Tips for Outdoor Workers (Pt. 1) left off, below we will take a closer look at some of the best treatments for heat exhaustion and heat stroke when outdoor workers start to display the signs of these serious heat-related injuries.
Heat Exhaustion Treatments
If noticed early enough, heat exhaustion can typically be treated without medical intervention by:
- Stopping all physical activities
- Getting out of the heat, preferably into an air-conditioned environment or a shady spot
- Resting with one’s back and legs elevated higher than the heart level
- Rehydrating by drinking plenty of water and/or sports drinks (particularly those that replenish electrolytes)
- Taking a cold shower to try to lower one’s body temperature
- Removing excess clothing and/or changing into clothing that is nonbinding, lightweight and breathable.
If, after taking the above-described measures, a person afflicted with heat exhaustion has not recovered within about an hour, it’s time to seek medical attention. At this point, IV fluids may be administered to the individual to try to rehydrate him.
Heat Stroke Treatments
When there is a risk that a person’s heat exhaustion has progressed to full-fledged heat stroke, it’s generally time to seek medical treatment. Treating this condition can involve any combination of:
- Immersing a person’s in an ice or cold water bath to try to bring down his body temperature
- Misting cool water on the skin while a warm fan blows on the skin to reduce the individual’s body temperature
- Applying ice packs to the individual’s neck, groin, lower back and armpits to try to bring down his temperature (With this technique, the individual may also be wrapped in a special cooling blanket to maximize the effects of ice pack exposure.)
- Administering muscle relaxants (like benzodiazepine) to try to quell body shivers and, as a result, make other treatments more effective at reducing the body temperature.
Be sure to look for the conclusion to this blog for a discussion on what outdoor workers can do to prevent heat exhausting and heat stroke.
Denver Workers’ Compensation Lawyer at the Bisset Law Firm
If you have sustained a serious heat-related injury on the job or have suffered any workplace injury, Denver Workers’ Compensation Attorney Jennifer Bisset wants you to know that she is here to aggressively represent your rights and help you obtain the benefits you need and deserve. All of the experienced legal professionals at the Bisset Law Firm are dedicated to providing each of our clients with the highest quality legal representation, keeping each of our clients informed at every stage of their cases and, ultimately, helping them obtain the best possible results for their cases.
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.
While we offer knowledgeable, superior counsel to anyone seriously injured on the job, some of our additional key strengths include our fierce negotiating skills, our extensive trial experience and our readiness to take decisive action when the denial or delay of a workers’ compensation claim is finally overruled.
