¡Salud y Saludos!

In 2004, North Carolina saw four deaths attributed to "exposure to excessive natural heat." Last year, that number shot up to 14. While the numbers have fluctuated a good deal from year to year, last year’s toll was the highest in the last the ten years. Over the course of the two decades from 1979 to 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 8,000 people in the United States succumbed to heat’s effects and died as a result. That was more than died from most natural disasters combined. This year’s figures for North Carolina won’t be available for some time, but these numbers clearly show how dangerous hot weather can be—especially for those who work outdoors during the summer.

There’s no question that many of those working outside, year-round, include many of the state’s Latino laborers. They often work in agricultural fields, construction, on road repair crews, and other “hot” jobs such as those found in factories. According to an economic impact study done by UNC’s Kenan Institute, almost half of the state’s Hispanic workforce works in construction. They only make up about a third of the construction force statewide, according to their numbers, but one need not look very hard to see that in urban areas...most of the workers on construction sites are Hispanic.

This is one of the reasons that emphasis has been placed this year on getting the word out on the dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. It’s not uncommon for athletes practicing sports out on a field in a hot summer day to suffer from heat exhaustion if they aren’t careful with their liquid intake. As they say, by the time you’re thirsty, the body is telling you it’s already dehydrated. Hydration is key during hot weather. And North Carolina summers can test even the most heat-accustomed residents.

Each year seems to bring a few days of triple-digit temperatures to many areas around the state. When this occurs, the humidity can make it feel ten or more degrees hotter. At these temperatures, one may first start suffering the effects of heat exhaustion—heavy sweating, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea. If the situation isn’t quickly remedied by getting the person to a cooler environment, heat stroke may set in—characterized by extremely hot body temperature in excess of 103°F, hot dry skin, and unconsciousness. This can be a life-threatening condition requiring the victim to immediately be cooled down by whatever means necessary. At this point, the victim should actually not be given anything to drink. But medical help should be summoned without delay.

Yet heat-related illnesses are generally preventable. That’s why one should heed the warnings related to hot weather. It only takes a bit of carelessness to cause potentially grave consequences. And considering that prevention just takes some common-sense actions, it’s well worth reiterating the health advice: drink plenty of water or juices, avoid alcohol and caffeine, keep out of direct sun as much as possible, dress in light-colored loose clothing, and watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. If you have to work in the heat, use a buddy system—monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do that for you.

Unfortunately, many individuals who are most at risk to falling victim to this weather-related illness are the least informed of the risk factors and symptoms. In some cases, workers may be pulling in more hours on the job than what they may be accustomed to. Furthermore, even I—coming from Miami—have been struck by how much hotter the temperature can actually get here in North Carolina. As the summer comes to an end, make sure you keep an eye out for those who may not be as familiar with the environment and its dangers, and speak up on how to stay safe.

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Last Modified: September 1, 2006