Common Heat-Related Injuries During The Summer Months

July 22, 2020
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Summertime in New Haven can be extremely hot. Right now we’re experiencing a longer than usual elevated temperatures. Not only does this impact our breathing, but it can affect how people perform the duties of their job. Their are 5 common heat-related injuries you should be on the lookout for, whether you are at work or at play.

  1. Heat rash. These small, red clusters look like pimples on the skin. Get to a cool place and keep the skin dry.
  2. Sunburn. Painful, red, warm skin that can sometimes blister. Keep your skin cool and stay out of the sun until it heals.
  3. Heat cramps. Muscle pain or spasms and intense sweating during exercise. Stop exercise and move to a cool place. Drink plenty of water. Seek medical attention if it lasts longer than an hour, you are on a low-sodium diet, or you have heart problems.
  4. Heat exhaustion. Heavy sweating, cold/pale, clammy skin accompanied by nausea, headache, dizziness. Move to a cool place, loosen clothes, sip water, and put cool clothes on your body. Seek medical help if it lasts longer than an hour or if you are vomiting.
  5. Heat stroke. Really high temperature (103 or greater), red, hot skin, dizziness, headache, confusion, nausea. Call 911 – heat stroke is a medical emergency. Get to a cooler place, put cool cloths on skin, do not give water. Wait for paramedics.

Heat related illness is not something to take lightly, and if it happened on the job might be considered a New Haven worker’s compensation injury. If you were not provided breaks to cool down, and your injuries were significant and permanent, contact our firm for a free consultation.