Hey, Okie!

[Sneaky Gun Runner SASS 79775]

Okie,

 

My youngest (22) works for Coke driving a truck delivering to some rural stores. He has been doing this for 3 months now and has worked in the 100+ heat since the beginning of the summer and I would assume this has him acclimatized to the weather. He has those high dollar undershirts that wick sweat, moisture filled neckbands that he rotates through a cooler, and drinks a lot of water and Powerade (Coke item, can't be drinking that evil Gatorade) throughout the day. He does take rest breaks as well. He works four days a week and an average day starts at 5 AM and ends around 6 or 7 PM.

 

Yesterday the AC in the truck went out early. Without the added cooldown period between stops after about 9 hours on the job he nearly passed out in a cooler at a local Conoco. He was dizzy and disoriented to the point he had to call in and get a relief driver for the remaining stops and a ride back to the plant for himself. He checked out OK at a after hours clinic and admits that he probably did no drink as much as he normally does.

 

Are we missing anything? Is there more to do to help beat this heat? We are at day #39 of 100+ temperatures and forecasters are saying at least another 4 weeks of the same. The daytime highs are now topping out at 110 +/- a couple. Just because he is all growed up does not mean I am not worried about him. Just wanting to see if we are missing anything else that would be of benefit.

[Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381]

Here is a blurb from a medical text that I always show people:

 

•Activity restriction — Clinicians should support efforts to curtail activities and warn the public of danger when weather conditions pose a significant risk for heat injury. Up to 70 percent of the risk for heat illness is attributable to excess humidity, followed by elevated solar radiation (20 percent) and increased temperature (10 percent). Risk for heat stress can be identified using either the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) or the heat index. The WBGT takes into account all three weather factors when assessing environmental conditions. However, the heat index, which only takes into account humidity and temperature, is more easily obtainable click here. Specific activity restrictions are suggested for given levels of heat index or WBGT. Recommended adaptations include more hydration breaks, more frequent player substitutions during organized competition, ensuring a shaded area for rest, scheduling of practices or games earlier or later in the day when heat conditions abate, or canceling athletic activities when the risk of severe heat illness is too high. When activity is allowed, complete rest and a cool-down period after a period of strenuous exercise may reduce the risk of increased heat strain during a subsequent exercise period in some children.

 

•Maintenance of hydration — Scheduled hydration breaks with strong encouragement for drinking is very important in children and adults, more so in children because they are more likely to inadequately replenish fluid losses during prolonged exercise and have a higher rise in rectal temperature when dehydrated relative to adults.

 

Flavoring water by adding both carbohydrates and sodium chloride increases fluid intake by as much as 90 percent versus offering unflavored water.

 

•Appropriate clothing — You should wear a single layer of absorbent, loose fitting clothing to maximize convective heat loss. Light colors help reduce absorption of solar radiation.

 

•Acclimatization — Heat acclimation provides the best protection against heat exhaustion and heat stroke, but this takes repeated exposures to heat. The number and duration of exposures necessary for acclimatization varies by age. For example, an older adolescent may become acclimatized after four successive days of limited heat exposure. In contrast, a young school age child typically needs up to 14 days to achieve the same physiologic endpoint.

 

That is all you can do. One note -- once you have had a heat injury, you are more prone to them in the future according to some experts in the field.