Beat the Heat

Washington University School of Medicine

Environmental Health & Safety

Phone: (314) 362-6816
Fax: (314) 362-1995
esafety@msnotes.wustl.edu

	Beat the Heat

Sizzling Facts

	Heat kills by taxing the human body beyond its abilities. In a normal year, about 175 Americans succumb to the demands of summer heat.
	Among the large continental family of natural hazards, only the cold of winter - not lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or earthquakes -takes a greater toll.
	In the 40-year period from 1936 through 1975, nearly 20,000 people were killed in the United States by the effects of heat and solar radiation.
	In the disastrous heat wave of 1980, more than 1,250 people died.

There were 1,021 heat-related deaths in the U.S. during the 1995 heat wave, 41 deaths occurred in the State of Missouri, 629 deaths in Illinois.

Playing it Cool

Drink plenty of water, even if you’re not thirsty.

Wear light-colored, lightweight, loose clothing (cotton, synthetic blends are best)

Adjust work schedules if possible. Assign heavier work on cooler days or during the cooler part of the day.

Establish a schedule for work and rest periods during heat advisory days.

Learn to recognize the symptoms of heat stress.

Caution	80⁰– 90⁰	Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure or physical activity.
Extreme Caution	90⁰ – 105⁰	Sunstroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion possible.
Danger	105⁰-130⁰	Sunstroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion likely.
Extreme Danger	Greater than 130⁰	Heat stroke/sunstroke highly likely with continued exposure.