Luckily the weather has now broken, but we were working in rather hot and potentially dangerous conditions: 101° with 55% humidity.It is common for people to think, "it's just hot." They do not wear a hat, they choose to wear clothing that leaves skin exposed, and they invariably do not drink enough.
Last week, we were working in the upper orange zone on this chart. Red signals the potential danger of heat stroke, whereas orange marks the danger of sun stroke and heat exhaustion. What is the difference? Potential death, for one. Heat stroke should not be messed with. It is potentially life threatening!
When suffering from these conditions, body temperature rises above tolerable limits. With heat stroke, it rises to the point where serious consequences can occur.
To avoid heat stroke, sun stroke, and heat exhaustion in such conditions: (1) elect to stop working and get out of the heat, (2) do things less strenuous if remaining in the heat, and (3) wear a hat when outside and drink plenty of water, even if not apparently thirsty, to stay hydrated. For a medical guide on how to prevent heat stroke, visit: http://www.medicinenet.com/heat_stroke/article.htm.
If you were on an excavation in Greece, or the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile, or anywhere where hot conditions are common, and you refused to wear a hat, cover skin, and drink water on a regular basis throughout the day, you would be put on a plane and sent home.
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