As you probably know, there's nothing funny about Texas heat in the summer. While most of us have become well-adapted to the high temperatures, working in the heat can still be incredibly dangerous.
If you spend too much time outside unprotected from the elements, you can suffer acute and long-term damages to your health. Obviously, no one likes the pain and discomfort of sunburns, but heat injuries can be much worst than that. For example, a heat stroke can have long-lasting effects.
Whether you're doing roof repair or have hired a roofing company to do it for you, it's important to be cognizant of the hazards of working outside on hot summer days.
1. Sunburns
As noted above, sunburns can vary from mildly annoying to dreadfully painful and life-threatening. Sunburns can range from first-degree to third-degree burns, some requiring medical attention.
You can treat first and second-degree sunburns with cool baths and low-pressure cool showers. You should also use aloe-based lotions and other approved skin creams.
For third-degree sunburns, seek medical attention. They are easily identifiable with sever pain, tight skin, large blisters, and patches of white skin in the burned area.
2. Dehydration
Another potentially dangerous effect of working in the heat doing roof repairs or any other physical labor is extreme dehydration.
When working outside under the hot sun, it's important to drink plenty of water. More specifically, you should be drinking more water than you think is necessary.
In the heat, we tend to sweat and lose a lot of body fluids, including electrolytes and sodium. Therefore, it's important to drink a lot of water. It's not a bad idea to consume a sports drink as well.
Dehydration can lead to headaches, muscle cramps, fatigue, nausea, and more.
3. Dizziness
Working in the heat can also lead to feeling dizzy. This can be especially dangerous while doing roof repair or any other work that has inherent risks.
For example, if you were to get dizzy while roofing, you could stumble and fall off the roof, leading to more severe injuries or death. To avoid getting dizzy, make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids and are taking regular breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned area.
4. Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion
Working in the heat for too long often leads to heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion symptoms include dehydration, headaches, muscle cramps, dark urine, and fatigue.
However, heat exhaustion can also lead to something more severe called heat stroke. Heatstroke is the most severe heat-related injury and requires immediate medical attention. If left untreated, it can cause damage to your body's vital organs like the brain and kidneys.
If you or someone else has heat stroke, move them to a cool area immediately and get ice packs under their armpits and between their legs at the groin. You should also make sure they're drinking water if they're still able.
Avoid Working in the Heat This Summer
At KangaRoof, we understand that you don't want to be working in the heat this summer. If you need roofing work done, we're happy to help.
We just ask that you understand the dangers of working on rooftops under the hot sun for our guys out there. It may take us a little longer while we avoid heat-related injuries, but we guarantee our work, as do our customers.
Contact us today to book an appointment.
