As summer kicks into full swing, visitors fill parks and outdoor facilities to enjoy recreation programming and amenities.
Summer also means more of your staff work outdoors in the elements, exposed to heat, humidity, and sunlight.
You want to be sure all your staff remain safe, especially when temperatures get extreme. Being aware of heat-related illness symptoms allows staff to monitor themselves, their coworkers, and any visitors exposed to prolonged periods of heat.
In this article, learn the risks of working in the heat. Then, review some early warning signs and what to do if you notice someone experiencing them. Finally, get ideas on how your agency can help prevent heat-related illness.
Park & Recreation Staff Are At Greater Risk
During the summer, many park maintenance staff spend a lot of time outdoors. Whether mowing, maintaining trails, conducting playground inspections, or performing other essential tasks, they deal with the heat.
Prolonged exposure to heat and humidity makes maintenance workers more vulnerable to heat-related illness.
More seasoned park maintenance workers may better understand heat risks and how to navigate working in hot temperatures.
What about the younger, seasonal staff?
Those who run programs throughout the day, like day camp staff or lifeguards, may be at a greater risk. Many of these staff are younger, seasonal workers unaware of heat’s dangers.
In fact, children and teens don’t adjust as quickly to heat as adults. Their bodies produce more heat and less sweat. They may not understand the importance of staying hydrated and resting throughout the day.
It’s Not Just the Temperature & Humidity
Many heat-related illnesses affect those doing strenuous activity outdoors. When maintenance and other workers engage in intense work, their bodies create heat. This “metabolic heat” combines with the environmental heat to raise core temperatures to dangerous levels.
Work considered “heavy” and “very heavy” puts workers at the highest risk of heat-related illness.
Heavy work can include:
- Shoveling
- Landscaping
- Carrying Loads
- Stacking Lumber
- Heavy Carpentry
- Felling Trees
Very heavy work can include:
- Using an ax
- Intense digging
- Climbing ladders and stairs
- Brick or stone masonry
- Anything done at a near-maximum pace
Understanding Heat-Related Illness
Heat-related illness occurs when the body cannot release heat quickly enough. Here are some of the most common threats staff face when working outdoors in the summertime.
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are painful muscle cramps and spasms after intense activity in high heat. They are the mildest form of heat illness.
Common Symptoms: Painful cramps and spasms, especially in the legs, arms, or trunk. Skin can be flushed or moist.
What to Do: Discontinue activity and move to a cool resting place. Remove any excess clothing and apply a cool cloth to the skin. Encourage the consumption of sports drinks containing salt and sugar.
Heat Rash
Heat rash occurs when sweat is trapped in the skin because sweat ducts get clogged. The sweat cannot get through the pours, so it causes the skin to get irritated. Sweat ducts can get clogged due to dead skin cells, sweat collecting between skin and clothing, and hormone changes. Anyone can develop a heat rash, but it is most common in babies and children.
Common Symptoms: Clusters of red bumps on the skin, usually appearing on the neck, upper chest, and skin folds.
What to Do: Cool the skin and avoid further exposure to heat. Apply a cool cloth to the affected area. Allow better airflow between the skin and clothing.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion results from the body's loss of water and salt. It occurs when the body is unable to cool itself effectively. When not treated, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke.
Common Symptoms: Heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, fatigue, and a weak but fast pulse. Skin can be cold, pale, and clammy. Body temperature is elevated.
What to Do: Move to a cool place, loosen clothing, and apply cool, wet cloths to the body. Sip water or sports drinks. Monitor symptoms carefully to ensure the condition doesn’t turn into heat stroke.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke occurs when the body is overwhelmed by heat and cannot regulate itself. This is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical attention.
Common Symptoms: High fever, warm & dry skin, rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and lethargy. Heat stroke victims can also have headaches, confusion, slurred speech, and agitation. In extreme cases, seizures, coma, and death are possible.
What to Do: Get the person to a cool area and call the emergency number immediately. Remove any excess clothing, especially protective gear. Place ice or cold wet towels on the head, neck, trunk, armpits, and groin. Try to circulate air around the individual. Offer cool fluids if the individual is alert and able to drink.
Preventing Heat-Related Illness in Parks and Recreation Workers
As we all know, we can’t control the weather. We can, however, control what we do while working in the heat.
Hydration
Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, whether you feel thirsty or not. OSHA recommends drinking at least 1 cup of water every 20 minutes. Also, replace salts and minerals lost while sweating with sports drinks.
Appropriate Clothing
Be sure the team is dressed appropriately for the heat. Encourage maintenance workers to wear light-colored, loose-fitting, and breathable clothing when possible. A hat also helps to shield workers from the sun.
Take Breaks
Encourage your staff to take more short breaks, preferably out of the heat. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), when temperatures top out at 100°F, those doing moderate work should take a 15-minute break after 45 minutes of working. Those doing heavy work should rest 30 minutes after 30 minutes of work.
You can get more guidelines from the NIOSH work/rest schedule.
Employer Responsibilities
Provide Training
It’s critical that all parks and recreation staff are trained to work safely in the heat and know what to do when someone suffers from heat-related illness. Training about heat-related issues should be included as part of onboarding new staff.
Training for working in the heat could include topics like:
- Risks of excessive heat
- Appropriate clothing
- Self-care and staying cool
- Heat-related illness symptoms
- First Aid for heat-related illness
- Location of emergency plans and safety protocols for each asset
Let new staff get acclimated to working in the heat. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), most outdoor heat-related fatalities occur in the first few days when new staff are working in hot environments. The body needs to gradually build a tolerance to the heat.
Also, provide a refresher training each year before the weather starts to get hot.
Above all, foster a culture where everyone is watching out for each other when working in extreme heat.
Emergency Plans and Safety Protocols
In addition to training, be sure safety protocols are in place for working and programming during excessive heat. Plans include oversight of workers, how to respond to heat advisories, ensuring PPE and first aid supplies are available, and when to contact emergency services.
Accessible emergency plans and safety protocols allow staff to quickly reference the guides to make the best, safest decisions.
Hydration and Cooling Opportunities
As part of a safe work environment, you want to make sure all your employees have access to water and other hydrating drinks. Where possible, offer cooling areas where staff can get a break from the heat–especially if they are working outdoors all day.
Adjust Work Schedules
Pay close attention to weather forecasts, and schedule the heaviest work during the coolest times of the day. During an excessive heat wave, determine the essential tasks that need to get done and what work can be deferred until the weather is better.
The Takeaway
Individuals of all ages and walks of life are at risk for developing a heat-related illness when working in extreme heat. Proper training, precautions, and supervision help to keep all employees safer in the heat. Encourage a culture where everyone looks out for one another to help avoid dangerous heat-related illnesses.