It’s Hot and It’s Dangerous! A Webinar for Community Health Workers to Learn about Heat Related-Illness and How to Help Prevent It.
Last year, in the sweltering heat of Georgia in late June, 24-year-old Mexico native Miguel Angel Guzman Chavez collapsed while picking tomatoes in a field. At the time that he fell ill, the temperature in fields was 95 degrees with a heat index of 104 degrees. After being in the United States for just one week, the young man suffered extreme heat exhaustion, which later escalated into heat stroke, cardiac arrest, and death. Every year, close to 30 workers die from heat-related illnesses in the United States. Outdoor work in industries such as agriculture and construction poses serious dangers for workers, but heat-related illnesses can be prevented.
This workshop will help community health workers recognize and prevent heat-related illness among at-risk workers. Case studies will show how to recognize the symptoms and health effects of heat-related illness. Participants in this workshop will receive resources for preventing heat-related illness.
This webinar will include the following:
- Signs and symptoms of heat stroke or heat stress
- Steps to take to prevent heat-related illness
- Resources available to workers
- Rights and responsibilities of workers in relation to heat stress
