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Email: Southwestcenter@missouri.edu

Superintendent:
Dr. Richard Crawford - Bio
14548 Highway H
Mt. Vernon, MO 65712-9523
Phone: 417-466-2148
FAX: 417-466-2109
Email: crawfordr@missouri.edu

Summer Weather Safety

Summer’s high temperatures and humidity can add an element of danger to farm work, according to Amanda Marney, agriculture preparedness specialist. Heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are real risks for people exposed to excessive heat.

Heat can cause direct harm if you get so hot your body can’t handle it, notes Marney. In addition, it adds to the stress that can be a big contributor to accidents. This is even truer when you can hardly see because of sweat dripping into your eyes.

Here are some tips to help keep you safe during hot weather:

• Think about safety basics. Make sure all tractors have rollover protection. Replace missing shields. Maintain and use lights, flashers and reflectors on machines. Replace slow-moving vehicle signs as needed. Keep machinery in good working order. Know and follow confined-space safety rules. Learn basic first aid, CPR and emergency response.
• Drink plenty of water before you feel thirsty. In hot weather that means at least eight large glasses a day, and more if you’re really working up a sweat.
• Wear cool clothes. Light-colored, loose-fitting clothes made of natural fibers such as cotton will help you stay cool. Socks made of materials such as Polypropylene and Thermex will help your feet stay cool and dry. A wide-brimmed hat can help you stay comfortable in addition to shielding your face and neck from the sun. Also use sunscreen.
• Take time to cool off. Splash yourself with water occasionally. Take breaks in the shade. Five minutes spent cooling off is less time from work than a trip to the emergency room – or months in physical therapy due to a stress-related accident.
• Plan around the heat. Think about the heat forecast as well as the rain forecast. Avoid strenuous work if it is very hot; save it for a cooler day.
• Watch the sweat factor. Sweat helps cool your skin as it evaporates. However, it can also make your hands slippery and impede your vision. Be extra careful when performing everyday tasks when you are sweaty.

For more information on summer weather safety, check out the agriculture preparedness website at http://aes.missouri.edu/swcenter. Click on Ag Preparedness link.

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