05/11/2022
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is needed often in healthcare to protect nurses, doctors and staff from an infection. However, some PPE can hamper efficiency and productivity and lead to personal discomfort during warmer months, especially heat waves. In order to control the effects of heat stress NIOSH recommends:
1) Limit time in the heat and/or increase recovery time spent in a cool environment.
2) Train supervisors and workers about heat stress that may be found in atypical places such as a healthcare setting while using encapsulating PPE.
3) Implement a buddy system in which workers observe each other for signs and symptoms of physiological heat strain.
4) Provide adequate amounts of cool (15⁰C or 59⁰F) water near the work area and encourage workers to drink frequently. Should employees work for more than 90 minutes continuously in a hot environment accompanied by profuse sweating, then cool (15⁰C or 59⁰F), balanced carbohydrate/electrolyte drinks should be provided in order to prevent hyponatremia or other electrolyte imbalances.
5) Implement a heat alert program whenever the weather service forecasts that a heat wave is likely to occur.
To get more information about the signs and symptoms of heat stress, consult the CDC website at https://lnkd.in/eUvA75x4, or call us and we'll be happy to guide you.
