Ag News

Take precautions to weather heat wave

With heat indices reaching into triple digits for much of this week, the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA), as well as multiple federal and state agencies, are offering heat safety tips.

The National Weather Service HeatRisk scale includes five color-coded danger levels for heat: Green for little to no risk expected; yellow for minor threats, primarily to those extremely sensitive to heat; orange for moderate, affecting most individuals with heat sensitivity, particularly those without access to cooling or hydration; red for major, affecting anyone without effective cooling or adequate hydration; and magenta for extreme, where rare and long-term extreme heat offers little to no overnight relief, with impacts likely in most health systems, heat sensitive industries and infrastructure.

For most of Georgia, the HeatRisk designation for June 25-27 is rated as major, with some counties forecast for extreme.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture offered the following information to combat heat stress in farm animals:

From the GFVGA:

Every year, thousands of workers are affected by heat illness while working in hot or humid conditions, however, heat-related illnesses can be prevented. Prevention requires employers and workers to recognize heat hazards and be educated to prevent or respond to a heat illness situation. 
To help farmers ensure the safety of their workers and compliance with OSHA standards, GFVGA has provided a "Prevent Heat Illness at Work" poster that simplifies the signs of a medical emergency, how to respond, and tips to avoid these events altogether. Every operation needs a heat plan to ensure the safety of employees in hot, humid conditions. This is one piece of that plan!
Click here for GFVGA’s downloadable and printable poster, and visit www.gfvga.org/page/heatstress  for more resources.

The National Weather Service in Atlanta recommends the following actions to prevent heat stress:

• On job sites, stay hydrated and take breaks in the shade as often as possible;

• Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles. Look before you lock!

• Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated;

• Check on the elderly, sick and those without air conditioning.

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the CDC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) offers the following actions for heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

Heat Exhaustion

• Symptoms include dizziness, thirst, heavy sweating, nausea and weakness;

• In response, the affected person(s) should be moved to a cooler area; loosen clothing, sip cool water and seek medical help if symptoms don’t improve.

Heat Stroke

• Symptoms include confusion, dizziness and/or loss of consciousness.

• In response, call 911; move person(s) to cooler area, loosen clothing and remove extra layers; and cool with water or ice.

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