Roadside Inspections, Heat
Roadcheck 2014. The CSA’s 72 hour safety inspection campaign known as Roadcheck 2014 was conducted at 1,500 locations 3-5 June 2014. The results from the campaign will not be published for several months but M.C. Tank was inspected two times during the event and both inspections were clean sheet inspections. Year to date 57% of the inspections that this company has had have been clean sheets. Hats off to the drivers and mechanics for your hard work.
Heat. Annually, an average of 700 people die in America from heat related injuries. This is not a startling number, unless of course it includes you or a loved one. There are two basic levels of heat injuries to be concerned with – Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke.
- Heat Exhaustion is considered non-life threatening. Heat Exhaustion commonly occurs during work outs (both work and play) when the body temperature elevates up to (but not higher) 104o F. Symptom of Heat Exhaustion include Muscle Cramps, becoming faint or dizzy, headache, weakness, thirst, moderate to heavy sweating, and nausea. Though considered non-life threatening, if untreated it can very quickly evolve into Heat Stroke which is considered life threatening.
- Heat Stroke occurs when the cooling system in your brain shuts down which causes the body temperature elevates above 105o F. Survivors of a Heat Stroke are commonly haunted for years to come of the ill affects of the injury and are often left more susceptible to future heat injuries. In addition to the symptoms of Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke symptoms also include remarkably abnormal dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, flushed hot skin, elevated blood pressure, hyperventilation, and occasionally are absent of sweat.
Aggressive Treatment is paramount. Call for medical help without delay. Lowering the body temperature must happen to prevent the situation from getting worse. If necessary, strip all the clothing off of the victim and pour a large amount of water on the victim’s upper and lower torso, under armpits, neck and temples. Fan the victim to increase the cooling affect of the evaporating water. If the victim vomits, keep them from aspirating the fluids into their lungs.
An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure when it comes to avoiding a heat injury. Everyone should try to keep hydrated. This can be accomplished by simply increasing your intake of fluids -- preferably water. Many soft drinks contain caffeine which is a diuretic which will increase dehydration. If you wait until you are thirsty to drink, you are already into an early stage of dehydration. Drink regularly, even to the point of scheduled hydration breaks. Everyone should avoid over exertion in hot weather. This can be accomplished by working at a slower pace and taking additional breaks. Lastly, when you realize that you are becoming over heated you should stop your work and remove yourself to a safe area and ventilate.