Summer heat
Summer temperatures are here! Please find below some information and recommendations for use during heatwaves.
Recommendations :
- Drink regularly, even if you're not thirsty: prefer water and low-sugar tea to sugary drinks. Adjust your diet
Warning: Do not eat or drink at your workstation if it involves chemical, biological or radioactive contamination. You should therefore drink or eat in a separate room, after hand hygiene.
- Wear light-colored, lightweight clothing, preferably cotton, to help evaporation of sweat. Protect your head from the sun (helmet, cap, hat, etc.).
- Adapt your work rhythm and take more frequent breaks.
- Reduce or postpone intense physical effort and postpone arduous tasks until the cooler hours of the day.
- Stop working when you feel dizzy, lightheaded or very tired. These symptoms may indicate heatstroke.
- Immediately report any abnormal behavior on the part of a colleague to the first-aid attendant and his/her supervisor.
- Take extra care if you are taking medication or have recently been ill.
- Do not consume alcoholic beverages or drugs.
- Indoors
- If possible, open windows during the night (as long as safety and security principles are respected), or at the latest in the early morning.
- Close windows and blinds during the day.
- Encourage air movement.
- Outdoors:
- Avoid exposure to sunlight as far as possible
- Cover your head
- Wear sunglasses with UV protection
- Use protective sun cream
- Wear clothing that covers or protects against UV rays
- Avoid heavy work in the afternoon (heat and ozone peak)
A few facts about risks
|
Health risks |
Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Sunburn | Redness and pain, swelling, blisters, fever, headache |
| Heat cramps | Painful spasms (legs and abdomen), sweating |
| Exhaustion | Heavy sweating, weakness, cold and pale skin, weak pulse, normal body temperature. |
|
Vital emergencies Heat stroke |
Body temperature over 40°C, dry, hot skin, rapid, strong pulse, headache, nausea and vomiting, possible loss of consciousness, convulsions Death possible due to thermoregulatory failure |
Heat stroke: What to do?
- Alert or have alerted the emergency services: 115 for the Dorigny university site (or 021 692 20 00) or 144 elsewhere.
- Cool down: Take the person to a cool place, lay them down and cool them down by wrapping them in a cool, damp sheet or by applying a towel moistened with cold water to their face and body.
- If she is conscious, give her fresh water often and in small quantities to avoid dehydration.
- If she's unconscious, put her in the lateral position and wait for help.
In all cases, even if the victim's condition improves rapidly, it is advisable to consult a doctor, especially if the victim is a child.
Tip:
Fill a small spray bottle with fresh water and spray your face and arms.
For reasons of hygiene, change the water and clean your spray regularly.
You can also wet a cotton scarf completely and wear it around your neck.
Usefull links:
Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) : Heat
Canton de Vaud (in French) : hot weather plan
Meteo suisse : https://www.meteosuisse.admin.ch/
