As temperatures continue to stay high in mid-2023, some may feel the signs of heat-related illnesses, such as rashes, cramps, dizziness, and headaches. They may even feel weak, have nausea/vomiting, or collapse, according to Dr Chan Yanjun, Medical Director (Singapore and Malaysia), International SOS.
Employers and employees need to understand that heat-related illnesses and death are preventable, when the right measures are taken, said Dr Chan.
Take more care if you're at risk
To begin with, some groups are at more risk of heat-related illnesses than others, he said, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These groups include:
- Those above 65 years old
- Pregnant / nursing mothers
- Those with medical conditions or on medications
- Those who spend a lot of time outdoors
- Employees stationed near heat sources or working conditions where the air is still
- Employees who work with hot objects, wear heavy clothing / protective gear,
and work long shifts
Sweating doesn't mean cooling
"A common misconception is their body is releasing heat as long as they are perspiring. As such, they do not need to worry about heat-related illness if they are sweating. However, heat from your body is only lost when the moisture evaporates.
"In humid countries such as Singapore, sweat evaporates at a slower pace. Therefore, you can still sweat a lot but not lose much body heat. This makes it imperative for employees, especially those who work under the sun, to be constantly hydrating, and replenishing salts and minerals such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium lost through sweat."
Taking breaks and hydrating
"To prevent heat-related illness, you must be smart about hydration and taking breaks from work," Dr Chan added. Some examples include:
- Planning and taking scheduled breaks in cool places
- Drinking safe mineral water or natural juice regularly – about every 20 minutes, or before you feel thirsty
- Choose to hydrate with mineral water, sports drinks, and natural fruit or vegetable juice
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| Heatwave concept image generated by Dream by WOMBO. |
"Employers must encourage their workers to take breaks if they are feeling uncomfortable due to the heat. They also have to keep an eye out for instances where their employees show signs of heat illness in order to act early to save lives," Dr Chan said.International SOS recommends the following when someone shows signs of heatstroke:
- Call for emergency medical help
- Move them to a cooler place to lie down
- Cool them in the best way possible – Cool the skin, make a breeze, use ice packs
- Offer cool water to drink if they are awake and able to drink. Do not give them drinks if they are not alert or vomiting
- Take their temperature every 10 minutes. Stop cooling efforts if their temperature is within the range of 38.3 – 38.9 oC
- If the person is unconscious, place them in the recovery position
- Act fast – When a person is overwhelmed by heat, their body temperatures can reach dangerously high levels in just 10 to 15 minutes
