SURVIVING THE SUMMER HEAT; WORKERS LOOK FOR WAYS TO STAY COOL, AVOID ILLNESS

Jody Kelsey, an employee of Brock Milam Masonary, Benton, grabbed a cold drink of water while mixing mortar at a job site.

Harry Trask, top, mixed prepared cement for Jim Lane to seal around the sewer pipe at West End Blvd. and Norman St. Friday. Trask said the manhole was so hot that stepping into the warn outdoor air felt almost like air conditioning.

Summer heat can make things uncomfortable for many people, but those who work indoors are among the most comfortable.

However, not everyone was so lucky. Many jobs require workers to be outdoors during the day -- often during the hottest part of the afternoon.

"It was a pretty tough week," said Brant Henson, a Cape Girardeau postal worker. "Everybody handled it okay, though. A lot of people took wet towels and put them around their necks."

Henson is just one of many people around the area who works in the heat -- even when heat indices reach well into the 100s.

Postal workers, construction workers, landscapers, lawn maintenance crews and others all have to cope with the heat.

Todd Kluesner of Kluesner Construction Inc. in Scott City, said he takes precautions during hot weather.

"We drink plenty of fluids and try to start at 6 a.m. to beat the heat," he said. "We take a break in the mornings at 9:30 and then try to get one in at lunch and try to knock off at 2:30. But a lot of times we're still working past 2:30."

Two majors problems can result from working out in the heat: heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These forms of heat stress can happen to anyone exposed to extremely hot weather.

Heat exhaustion is caused when the body loses too much water and minerals because of profuse sweating. Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, said symptoms of heat exhaustion are light-headedness, a faint feeling and profuse sweating.

When these symptoms occur, Craig recommends resting in a cool, shaded area, drinking water or other fluids, and applying a cool compress on the forehead or under the arms.

Heat stroke is more serious because the body cannot cool down, and permanent damage to organs can result. Signs of heat stroke include a lack of sweating; hot, dry, flush skin; deep, rapid breathing; headache or nausea; dizziness; loss of consciousness; and/or convulsions. Death can also result from a heat stroke, so medical attention should be sought right away.

While waiting for medical attention to arrive, the person should rest in a cool, shady area; remove excess clothing; apply cold compresses and increase air flow; and drink water or other fluids.

So how do people, especially people who work in the heat avoid heat exhaustion or stroke?

Craig said the best solution is to stay indoors in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

If you must be outdoors, Craig recommends:

-- Wearing loose clothing. Don't wear anything dark colored.

-- Take regular breaks.

-- Drinking plenty of fluids.

Alcohol, caffeine, certain medications and medical conditions and recent illnesses can increase a person's risk of heat stress.

Children, especially babies, and the elderly are even more susceptible to the effects of heat, so they should stay out of the heat as much as possible.

Craig said there have only been five heat-related incidences reported so far this summer.

"That means that two things are happening," she said. "One, people are listening to the warnings. And two, people are spreading the word."

Henson and his coworkers at the post office are listening to the warnings. "You've got to take breaks," he said. "You've got to watch yourself. We take a lot of water with us." He drinks at least a gallon of water a day while on his route.

And he hasn't seen any of his coworkers suffer from heat stress. "Everybody's done pretty well so far."