Preventing heat stress starts with education

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. John Teutsch
  • 17th Medical Group Bioenvironmental Engineering Office
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Anyone can easily fall victim to heat stress, especially those not use to West Texas weather. Preventing heat stress is a great concern and the only way to avoid it is with education.

The "heat load" of the body is caused by environmental factors and the intensity of physical work. To balance heat gain, the body relies on sweat to cool itself. Heavy clothing or environmental conditions - high humidity and little to no wind - can cause the core body temperature to rise because of insufficient cooling. 

The Bioenvironmental Engineering Office monitors conditions that increase the risk of heat stress to determine the wing's flag condition. Results are reported to the command post and color coded flags are posted around the base to indicate water intake and work limitation requirements. The flag colors, by increasing severity, are: white, green, yellow, red and black. At higher flag conditions, water intake requirements increase and outside activities may be limited or canceled.

Flags are posted at the military training leaders' office in Building 3201, across from the commissary, along the troop walk next to Building 409, and at the track adjacent to the Mathis Fitness Center.

Supervisors should modify work schedules when possible so the heaviest work is done at night or during the coolest part of the day. When exposed to the sun or other radiant heat sources, consider wearing the least amount of clothing allowed. Avoid dark-colored clothing, too, since they absorb more heat than light-colored clothing. When working or exercising outdoors, use sun block and try to wear light-weight clothes that are loose-fitting at the neck and wrist. Eating a solid meal as part of a balanced diet can help, too.
While it's important to remain hydrated, don't drink more than 1 and 1/2 quarts of water per hour, or more than 12 quarts daily. Rapid ingestion of large amounts of water can lead to acute water intoxication which dilutes the bloodstream and causes weakness, convulsions and loss of consciousness.

Signs of heat stress illness include: fainting, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke - a life-threatening failure of the body's heat regulation system. Heat disorder symptoms are nausea, vomiting, fever, dizziness, headache, fainting, lack of coordination, mental confusion, and abdominal or leg cramps. Severe symptoms such as convulsions or hot, red skin without sweat indicate an emergency condition.

Supervisors should become familiar with the governing directives on heat stress: Air Education and Training Command Instruction 48-101, Prevention of Heat Stress Disorders, and the May 2009 Goodfellow Supplement. Work-rest cycles and recommended water intake guide cards can be obtained by contacting bioenvironmental engineering at 325-654-3126. For questions on heat stress, contact bioenvironmental engineering or public health at 325-654-3123 during normal duty hours.