Best practices for nuisance wildlife control operators in New York State

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Ch 4: Section two: Risks that come with your job

Heat-related illnesses

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"I was removing a large starling nest from an attic. The nest was 6–8 feet tall and almost as big around. Because of the dust, I was wearing a respirator. I wasn't moving around much, just bagging up the nest. After an hour, I noticed I was getting light-headed. As soon as I moved, the dizziness really hit me. It was all I could do to get to the ladder and get down in one piece. If I hadn't recognized the symptoms I could have collapsed up there and maybe died from the heat."

— Wayne Langman, NWCO in Indiana

NWCOs have to go where the animals are. Often, that takes you into an enclosed space that's hot and stuffy. To make things worse, there's a good chance you'll be wearing protective gear that will make you even hotter. This can lead to a variety of heat-related conditions, such as heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Heat stroke is the most serious condition—it's a life-threatening emergency. Heat stroke can kill quickly or cause permanent brain damage. Your body temperature can rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes.

Milder forms of heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, can develop into heat stroke if untreated. Even the milder conditions can be serious for NWCOs because they might lead to accidents, especially falls. Dizziness, fogged safety glasses, slippery, sweaty palms, compromised balance, and outright fainting could make you fall off a ladder or beam.

Under hot conditions, some workers can lose as much as 2–3 gallons of water a day through sweat. You need to drink about as much water as you lose to sweat to avoid dehydration.

Don't count on thirstiness to signal when you need to drink because it's not a reliable indicator. Just plan on drinking 5–7 ounces of water every fifteen minutes, or one quart every hour.

Warning signs of heat stroke:

• hot skin, usually dry, red, or spotted
   
• extremely high body temperature, 105°F or higher
   
• no sweating
   
• confusion or delirium
   
• unconsciousness
   
• convulsions
   
• vomiting

Warning signs of heat exhaustion:

• moist, clammy skin
   
• pale or flushed complexion
   
• body temperature is normal or slightly high
   
• heavy sweating
   
• giddiness, dizziness, or fainting
   
• headache, perhaps really throbbing
   
• queasiness
   
• extreme weakness or tiredness
   
• in more serious cases, person may also vomit or become unconscious

What to do:

Call 911 and seek immediate medical attention if: the symptoms are severe; you have heart problems or high blood pressure; the symptoms worsen; or the symptoms last more than an hour.

Cool down as fast as you can. Douse yourself with cool water from a shower or garden hose. Go to an air-conditioned room. Drink cool, nonalcoholic drinks; ideally, about 5–7 oz. of water every fifteen minutes. Do whatever it takes and continue until your body temperature drops to 101–102°F. Call the hospital emergency room or rescue squad for further instructions.

If the person is vomiting, turn him on his side to keep his airway open. If he's experiencing convulsions, make sure he doesn't hurt himself but don't place any objects in his mouth, and do not give him fluids.

Best ways to prevent heat-related problems:

• Give yourself a few days (ideally, 4–7 days) to get used to the heat by gradually increasing the amount of time you spend in hot areas. If you're out of the heat for more than a week, you need to do this again.
   
• Take a break every hour while you are working in a hot spot (80°F or hotter) especially if the humidity is high. Move to a cool spot.
   
• During your cool break, drink at least one quart of water.
   
• Eat light, cold meals, preferably those lower in fat, because fat is harder to digest in hot weather.
   
• No alcoholic drinks.
   
• Do the job early in the morning whenever possible, especially if it requires a lot of time in an attic or crawlspace.
   
• Work with another person if you can, so you can check each other for signs of heat stress.

For more information, see:

• "Working in hot environments," CDC report.
   
• "Protecting workers in hot environments," OSHA report 95-16

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