State Fund
Group 364
Western Suppliers Association, Group 364, and State Compensation Insurance Fund have been working together to assure as a State Fund Member you will continually receive, in addition to what you already receive from State Fund, updated safety information that promotes safe work to keep claims down and employee morale up.
Companies whose governing class codes match those of WSA can be a member of Group 364 for an annual fee of $100.00. With this payment, members will receive such benefits as:
An Immediate 6% reduction in your rate
Safety support and service by our Association
Use of our video lending library
Continual safety information ranging from ergonomics for the workplace to avoiding slips, trips, and falls on the job site.
For more information about the benefits of group insurance, call our State Fund group representitive Cesar Farfan at (925) 523-5994 or State Fund at (800) 533-6868 today. Click on the membership below and kindly mail back to the WSA office.
State Fund Membership
Keep your employees updated on their safety by using some of our helpful safety links. Make safety first and prevent injury before it happens.
State Compensation Insurance Fund
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National Safety Counsel
Work Safe
Monthly Safety Article
THIS SUMMER IS HOT! |
HEAT AND SUN STROKE:
Basics
Heatstroke occurs when your body's thermostat cannot keep your body cool. Your body relies on water evaporation to stay cool. As your temperature rises, your body reacts by sweating. When this sweat evaporates, it cools your body. The amount of moisture in the air (humidity) determines how readily sweat evaporates. In very dry air, sweat evaporates easily, quickly cooling your body; but in very humid air, sweat does not evaporate. It may collect on the skin or run off your body without affecting your body's climbing temperature.
Extremely warm and humid temperatures can quickly overwhelm your body's cooling system—particularly when the air is not circulating. When sweating can no longer keep you cool, body temperature quickly rises, causing the symptoms of heat-related illness.
Sunstroke is a type of heatstroke. Heatstroke is a condition that occurs after exposure to excessive heat. In sunstroke—also called heat illness, heat injury, hyperthermia, heat prostration, and heat collapse—the source of heat is the sun. Other types of heatstroke occur after exposure to heat from different sources.
Heatstroke—including sunstroke—is considered to be the most severe of the heat-related illnesses. Heat can have punishing effects on your body. After excessive exercise or physical labor, your body can overheat, and you may suffer heat exhaustion. Heat cramps occur after excessive loss of water and salt; usually resulting from excessive sweating, or after strenuous exercise or labor. During heat exhaustion and heat cramps, the heat-controlling system is still intact, but can be overwhelmed. If this happens, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, a life-threatening medical condition. In severe cases, heatstroke can even cause organ dysfunction, brain damage, and death.
Causes
Sunstroke is caused by a failure in your body's cooling system. When its cooling system fails, your body is overwhelmed by excess heat; this is when sunstroke occurs. Anything that disrupts your body's thermostat can increase the likelihood of sunstroke. These may include such factors as underlying medical conditions, medications, physical characteristics, or age.
Dehydration contributes to sunstroke. Dehydration happens when your body excretes more water than it takes in. For example, increased water loss through excessive urination is a common side effect of caffeine, alcohol, and many prescription and over-the-counter medications. When the water supply in your body is low, cells begin to pull water from the bloodstream, forcing organs to work harder. Dehydration can also affect the skin's ability to cool the body efficiently. The heart must pump an adequate supply of blood to the skin in order for the skin to cool the body. When you are dehydrated, the blood's volume is reduced, so the cooling process becomes less effective. The taxing effect on the body escalates into the symptoms of heat-related illness.
Prolonged exposure to the sun contributes to sunstroke. When body fluids are not adequately replenished, sun exposure can cause rapid dehydration. Even on mild or overcast days, the sun can have dangerous health effects. The heat index is a measure calculated by the National Weather Service. It indicates how hot it "feels" outside in the shade when both the air temperature and the relative humidity are considered. In the direct sun, the heat index rises even higher. The following heat indices are associated with these heat-related conditions:
80°F-90°F: Fatigue possible after prolonged physical activity or sun exposure.
90°F-105°F: Heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and sunstroke possible after prolonged physical activity or sun exposure.
105°F-130°F: Heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and sunstroke likely after prolonged physical activity or sun exposure.
130°F and higher: Sunstroke likely with sustained exposure to the sun.
Treatment
Urgent Care
If someone shows the signs of sunstroke, seek medical treatment or call 911 immediately. Before medical treatment arrives, move the individual to a cool area. Provide cool drinks—preferably a sports drink containing both sugar and salt. Remove any constricting clothing.
Treatment strategies depend on the severity of the symptoms.
Treatment for sunstroke begins immediately upon diagnosis by a medical doctor. In mild cases, the body can be effectively cooled by taking the patient to a shaded or air-conditioned area, removing most clothing, and applying cool water or ice packs to the skin. Drinking iced fluids also helps return the body temperature to a safe level. In severe cases, treatment involves rapid cooling, either by immersing the body in an ice water bath or by evaporative cooling. In the latter procedure, large circulating fans blow cool air across wet skin.
Self Care
Take steps to prevent heatstroke and sunstroke. Drink plenty of water, stay out of the sun, and avoid strenuous activity during hot weather. In addition, avoid drinking caffeinated beverages to keep yourself from becoming dehydrated.
If you start to experience the symptoms of heatstroke, move to a cool, shady area and drink something cool—preferably a beverage containing both sugar and salt.
Prognosis
Recovery from sunstroke depends on the speed and effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment. When treatment for sunstroke is administered promptly, the patient can expect a full recovery in one or two days. In severe cases, when body temperature climbs to 106°F (41.1°C), sunstroke can cause shock. After prolonged exposure to such high body temperatures, brain damage can occur. Death occurs in about 20% of heatstroke cases according to one study. The likelihood of dying from heatstroke increases with a longer duration of heat exposure.
Follow-up
After a full recovery from heatstroke, little follow-up care is needed. Recovered patients may want to rest and stay in cool areas for several days. Patients should also adopt aggressive prevention strategies to keep sunstroke from recurring.
The information herein is for reference only and State Fund does not warranty its accuracy or fitness for a particular purpose. Any products, references, or links to Web sites are not an endorsement by State Fund or its employees, but serve only as examples to assist you with your workplace design changes. State Fund cannot be held liable or accountable for content on linked Web sites.
NEW! 2010 Safety Videos for State Fund Members Only!
NEW! Preventing the Spread of Contagious Illness (20 minutes)
NEW! Handle with Care: Forklift Safety Training (21 minutes)
NEW! Taking Fall Protection to Greater Heights (22 minutes)
Click here for a full list of our videos!
All Rentals are Free to State Compensation Insurance Fund Members Group 364! Please email your request of videos to wsacarrie@sbcglobal.net
State Fund Members Group 364
Online Safety Resource Manager: Carrie Macker
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