Heat illness is a serious medical condition that occurs when the body is unable to adequately cope with heat exposure. Heat-related illnesses can range from heat cramps and heat exhaustion to life-threatening heat stroke.

Heat stroke can be fatal if medical treatment is delayed. UC Merced's Heat Illness Prevention Program establishes requirements for preventing and responding to heat-related illnesses in both indoor and outdoor workplaces. Supervisors and employees should understand how to recognize heat-related illness, respond appropriately, and implement measures to prevent heat exposure.

Below is a brief summary of information available in the Heat Illness Prevention Program manual.

How to recognize and respond to heat-related illness:

Heat illness includes several conditions that may result from the body's inability to cope with a particular heat load, including heat rash, heat cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, rhabdomyolysis, and heat stroke.

Heat illness can progress quickly from mild symptoms to a serious, life-threatening condition. Refer to the Heat Illness Prevention Program for additional information about signs, symptoms, first aid, and emergency response.

Employees should immediately report signs or symptoms of heat illness in themselves or a coworker to their supervisor.

What to Do if Heat Illness Is Suspected

If an employee experiences signs or symptoms of heat illness:

1. Stop work and immediately notify the supervisor.
2. Move the employee to a shaded or appropriate cool-down area.
3. Begin appropriate cooling and first-aid measures.
4. Monitor the employee continuously and do not leave the employee alone.
5. Do not send an employee experiencing symptoms home without appropriate evaluation or assistance.

For severe symptoms or whenever the severity of the illness is uncertain, call 911 immediately.

Severe symptoms may include confusion, loss of consciousness, staggering, vomiting, seizures, irrational behavior, or other signs of possible heat stroke.

Employees experiencing heat-illness symptoms should not drive themselves to obtain medical care.

Resources and Questions

For questions regarding the UC Merced Heat Illness Prevention Program, workplace heat hazards, environmental assessments, training, or prevention requirements, contact Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S).

For non-emergency medical guidance or follow-up related to workplace heat exposure, contact Occupational Health at 209-228-0100.

For a serious or potentially life-threatening medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

UCLC Heat Illness Training

Employees and supervisors performing work that can reasonably be anticipated to expose them to the risk of heat illness must complete Heat Illness Prevention training. This includes applicable indoor and outdoor work environments.

General heat illness prevention measures include:

• Drink water frequently, especially when working in hot conditions.
• Take preventative cool-down rests in shaded or designated cool-down areas when needed.
• Be aware of the signs and symptoms of heat illness in yourself and coworkers.
• Immediately report signs or symptoms of heat illness.
• Follow applicable departmental heat illness prevention procedures.