During the summer, more workers are performing job tasks outdoors. The types of jobs can vary greatly ranging from construction work to farming and other agricultural duties to road paving and painting. While the hazards can be different from those found in indoor environments, there are still practical ways to protect workers from outdoor hazards.
Here are 3 common summer health hazards:
1. Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions.
If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated.
How can you prevent it?
Always make sure you drink lots of water during these scorching summer months (approx 35ml per kg body weight). Apart from this, drinks for replacing body fluids can be coconut water, aloe vera juice, amla juice, fruit juice, vegetable juice, buttermilk, sugarcane juice or an electrolyte drink. But fruit or electrolyte juice will be better if diluted to half the strength with water to moderate sugar or salt intake from those drinks. Drinks with alcohol or caffeine should be avoided as these dehydrate the body.
2. Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature: the body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes.
How can you prevent it?
Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose fitting and cotton clothing. Stay indoors as much as possible and schedule outdoor activities carefully. Most importantly, take a good amount of fluids and hydrate well before stepping out. If caught with mild sunstroke, settling teas like chamomile, peppermint, fennel seeds or our own aam panna also helps best.
3. Food Poisoning
Rates of food poisoning increase in summer months because bacteria grow faster in warmer weather.
How can you prevent it?
To avoid food poisoning, we simply have to be careful about what we put in our mouth. Furthermore, we should make sure that we eat only well cooked food and try to consume it as soon as possible once it’s cooked. Eat only fresh cut salads and fruits when eating raw. Do not leave food long outside before refrigerating. Try to refrigerate all the leftover food as soon as steam stops rising from it.
Ample rest, good hydration, eating light and, last but not the least, moving your body adequately helps us stay fit and healthy from summer health hazards. Prevention remains the key, as lack of awareness is one of the main reasons for the near fatal result of these hazards.
We hope this article helps you enjoy a healthy summer.
Want us to cover some more hazards?
Did we miss out on something?
Let us know in the comments below!
For more health related updates check our instagram and facebook.
Instagram Link: https://instagram.com/dietox_nutrition_by_richa
Facebook Link: https://facebook.com/dietox_nutrition
Summer heat can have devastating effects, especially if you are in one of those place which has extreme summers. Heat stroke and dehydration can lead to fatal complications and one needs to take proper precautions.
ReplyDeleteIt is common for outdoor personnel as well as indoor employees/homemakers to suffer heat illness during the summer months (such as heat exhaustion, cramps, and fatigue). If you spend too much time in the sun, your body is more likely to suffer. A very informative article indeed to combat the summer woes.
ReplyDeleteEvery weather comes with its own issues. Summer's are indeed challenging for many of us and especially those who step out in this extreme heat. Thank you for sharing these amazing tips. They are really helpful.
ReplyDeleteSummer temperatures can bring in a lot of hardships in maintaining proper health. It's very important to stay hydrated and eat healthy food
ReplyDelete