As spring comes to an end, it is time to prepare for long, hot summer days. Heat presents challenges to indoor and outdoor workers' health and well-being alike, and it is possible to get injured without even knowing it. Florida’s extreme temperatures often bring in hot climates alongside very rainy days. And when there’s a job to get done, many hard working men and women must face working in this stifling heat. Here are a few common summer injuries to avoid when working in the heat.

Dehydration Injuries

Dehydration is one of the most common summer injuries in Florida. Especially in hot weather, dehydration can seriously put you at risk for intense injuries such as loss of strength and stamina, increased risk of kidney stones, and swelling in the brain.

Not drinking enough water and regenerating the appropriate levels of sodium you lose through sweat means your body cannot regulate its temperature, leading to painful heat cramps.

If you work in a construction site or plant vegetables on a farm for 8 hours a day, 5 times a week, you are at risk of serious dehydration. And when it’s hot, thirst is not always the best indicator of your body’s hydration needs. Take advantage of 15-minute water breaks throughout your day because if you wait until you’re short of fluids, this may lead to dizziness, muscle cramps, and fatigue.

Slip and Fall Injuries

The more it rains, the higher the chances of slip and fall injuries at work. The rain makes pavements slick and slippery, which could result in a slip and fall injury such as fractures, sprains, head injuries, and cuts.

Wet sidewalks, roads, and hallways are likely suspects for slip and falls, especially if water is tracked into a building. Be careful to avoid walking or running across wet surfaces when you enter a building and it’s raining outside.

Slip and fall injuries happen for various reasons, but wet floors on rainy days are especially problematic because many people may not realize that the floor is wet. If you slip and fall at work, make sure to report your injury to your manager.

Sun Injuries

The strength of the sun rays during the summer can cause a number of painful burns and injuries. Unprotected exposure from the sun can lead to injuries like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, skin damage, and immune system suppression. Sunburn and excessive UV damage to your skin can cause peeling and burning.

Sun-exposed workers should remain cautious and take preventative measures like wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeve shirts and pants, using sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, wearing a wide brim hat to protect neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp, wear UV-absorbent sunglasses, and limit exposure to drastically decrease sun injuries.

At Carrillo Injury Law firm, we do everything to help with work compensation and personal injury claims. From sunburns to dehydration, if you’re injured on the job, we want to help. Contact our office today by emailing office@carrilloinjurylaw.com.

Sources:

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/heat-injury-and-heat-exhaustion

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/nutritional/dehydration

https://www.spinalcord.com/blog/the-most-common-slip-and-fall-injuries