It’s getting hot in here: Tips for helping your child prevent heat stress at work

Record-setting heat and unseasonal heat waves are becoming part of our day-to-day lives. And since teens and young adults often work jobs where heat is a factor—such as restaurant kitchens, outdoor patios and concessions, camps, landscaping, golf courses and pools, it’s important to know how to recognize, prevent and treat heat stress. “I think people are starting to become more aware of it, for sure. I also think there’s probably a lot of workplaces that still don’t have a formal heat stress program or training awareness for their workers,” notes Toni Volpato, Specialized Consultant (Occupational Hygiene) for Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS).

It’s also fair to say that teens and young adults may ignore or downplay signs of heat stress because they don’t want to be seen as “lazy” for taking a break. They may skimp on drinking water frequently or may not want to wear a hat or other protective, breathable clothing.

Read on to learn more so your teen can avoid the impact of heat stress at work.

What is heat stress?

Heat stress at work refers to stress on your body’s cooling system, caused by working where it’s hot. The body can’t get rid of excess heat, and your core temperature rises. If not addressed, heat stress can lead to heat-related illness, disability and even death. According to the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, heat stress can be worsened by:

physical work
loss of fluids (often through sweating)
fatigue
a pre-existing medical condition

Causes of heat stress include:

working in direct sunlight in the summer months
more than 50% humidity in the workplace
certain workplace environments, such as commercial kitchens, bakeries or industries such as mining

What are the symptoms of heat stress?

There are a number of conditions related to heat stress, with some overlapping symptoms and treatments. Dehydration, thirst, change in urine colour (too dark), sweating and painful muscle cramps are all early warning signs. Confused thinking, being very hot but not sweating anymore, dizziness and fainting are considered danger signs.

This chart summarizes some key points:

Condition	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention	Seek medical attention
Heat rash	Very itchy red bumps on the skin, caused by plugged sweat glands	Rinse skin with cool water, change into dry clothes and avoid hot environments	Keep skin dry and clean with regular showering or bathing	If the rash is frequent or very bothersome, a doctor may prescribe a cream or ointment for treatment
Heat cramps	Muscle pain in legs, arms or stomach; caused by a salt imbalance from heavy sweating	Move to a cool area, loosen clothing and gently massage and stretch the affected area; drink cool, slightly salted water or an electrolyte beverage	Reduce activity levels and heat exposure; drink fluids regularly	If the cramps are very severe or do not improve after treatment, get medical help right away
Fainting	Loss of consciousness; warning signs include cool, moist skin and a weak pulse; caused by fluid loss and not drinking enough water	Move to a cool area, loosen clothing, lie down; when conscious, sip some cool water	Reduce activity levels and heat exposure; drink fluids regularly; avoid standing in one place too long	A fainting episode should be checked out by a medical professional
Heat Exhaustion	Heavy sweating, cool moist skin, body temperature above 38°C (100.4°F), weak pulse, low blood pressure, feeling tired and weak, nausea and vomiting, extreme thirst, panting or breathing rapidly, blurred vision	Move to a cool area, loosen clothing, spray with cool water, drink cool water	Reduce activity levels and heat exposure; drink fluids regularly	Heat exhaustion is a breakdown in the body’s cooling system and requires medical attention; do not leave the person alone
Heat Stroke	Body temperature of about 40°C (104°F), fast pulse, headache or dizziness, passing out, weakness, confusion or acting strangely; hot dry red skin is classic heat stroke and heavy sweating is exertional heat stroke	Remove excess clothing; drink and spray cool water	Reduce activity levels and heat exposure; drink fluids regularly	Heat stroke is a medical emergency: call an ambulance

Ways parents can help

If heat stress is a concern, ask your child what kind (if any) of heat stress procedures their employer has in place. Some ways that workplaces can help prevent heat stress include:

developing a heat stress plan for the work environment.
training workers, managers and supervisors to recognize signs of heat stress, and what to do about it if it happens.
advising staff to wear cotton or other loosely woven fabric that wicks moisture away from the skin.
making drinking water readily available with a place to rest out of the hot environment.

There are several ways that you can help as a parent, says Toni.

Talk about heat stress with your child. “Make sure that they understand the signs and symptoms, and share any experiences you’ve had with heat stress,” she says. “It makes it relatable to them when you share stories.”
Role-play a few things they could say to their employer if they’re ever in that scenario. “It’s ok to say, ‘I need a break, I’m not feeling well. I am really hot, and I feel lightheaded. I may have heat exhaustion.”
Provide reassurance that they have your support if they speak up about heat stress concerns and remove themselves from an overly hot environment. Remind them their employer doesn’t want them to feel unwell either, and things could get worse. They may potentially faint, fall and have an additional injury.

The main message: “Make sure that your kids are aware that if they’re working in environments that could get too hot, that it is a real potential hazard,” says Toni. “Give them an idea of the signs and symptoms to look for, and if it does happen at work, what to do about it.”