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Site Health and Safety Plan Page 29 <br />The worker should sit or lie down in a cool shaded area, and be provided plenty of water or <br />other cool beverages to drink, avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages. Remove or loosen <br />excessive or restrictive clothing, and direct cooling with cold compresses or ice packs <br />applied to the groin, armpits, and trunk may be considered. If signs or symptoms do not <br />improve or worsen within 60 minutes, seek medical attention immediately. <br />7.1.1.3 Heat Stroke <br />Heat stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency. Without immediate medical <br />intervention heat stroke may result in permanent damage or death. Symptoms of heat <br />stroke include confusion, fainting, seizures, excessive sweating followed by red hot, dry skin, <br />and very high body temperature. <br />Call 911 immediately. While waiting for emergency medical help to arrive, remove the <br />worker to a shady, cool area. Remove outer clothing, or at the very least loosen restrictive <br />clothing. Fan cool air on the worker, and apply ice packs in the armpits, groin and trunk. <br />Provide cool water in small doses. It is critical that the body temperature is lowered as <br />quickly as possible. <br />Table 2 Summary of heat related illness signs and symptoms, and first aid response <br />Condition Signs & Symptoms Response <br />Heat <br />Stroke <br />• Hot, dry skin or profuse <br />sweating; Hallucinations; <br />Chills; Throbbing headache; <br />High body temperature; <br />Confusion/dizziness; Slurred <br />speech. <br />• Heat stroke is the most <br />serious heat-related disorder. <br />It occurs when the body <br />becomes unable to control its <br />temperature: the body's <br />temperature rises rapidly, the <br />sweating mechanism fails, <br />and the body is unable to cool <br />down. When heat stroke <br />occurs, the body temperature <br />can rise to 106 degrees <br />Fahrenheit or higher within 10 <br />to 15 minutes. Heat stroke <br />can cause death or <br />permanent disability if <br />emergency treatment is not <br />given. <br />• Call 911 immediately and notify <br />their supervisor. <br />• Move the sick worker to a cool <br />shaded area. Cool the worker <br />using methods such as: <br />• Soaking their clothes with water. <br />• Spraying, sponging, or showering <br />them with water. <br />• Fanning their body. <br />• HEAT STROKE IS A SIGNIFICANT <br />MEDICAL EMERGENCY. DO NOT <br />HESITATE TO INITIATE <br />EMERGENCY RESPONSE <br />PROCEDURES.