FOR MANY, THE HEAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME

With much of the U.S. experiencing unprecedented heat and drought, you’ll want to consider the following precautions to beat the heat while on the road during these hot summer months.

Stay Hydrated: It’s easy to forget to drink water while on the road, but it’s extremely important to stay properly hydrated – particularly during the hottest months of the year. Keeping a couple of bottles of water next to you while you’re driving will serve as a constant reminder and make it practical for you to drink water throughout the day.

Keep Tires Inflated: In the higher temperatures of the summer, the chance of tire blowouts increases. Under-inflated tires can further increase the risk for blowouts, so you’ll want to be sure you check that your tires are properly inflated before you drive. 

Check Your Brakes Regularly: Check your brakes before you start your drive because higher temperatures can result in a loss of friction when the brake parts can’t absorb any more heat.

Protect Yourself from the Sun: Spending several hours, a day driving means you will have a lot of sun exposure. Don’t forget to follow sun safety tips like wearing sunscreen and wearing long sleeves.

Be Aware of Crowded Roads: Roads tend to be a lot more crowded during the summer months with families taking vacations and a lot more people having time off work. Heavy traffic volume presents more dangers for truck drivers, so you’ll want to be extra alert and aware of other vehicles on the road.

Know the Signs of Serious Heat-Related Illness: If you must load and unload freight or do other heavy work in hot conditions, you could succumb to a heat-related illness before you realize how sick you are. Two risky heat-related conditions are heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Heat exhaustion is a serious medical problem that may or may not require medical attention. Signs of heat exhaustion include the following symptoms:

  • Sweating profusely
  • Skin that’s cold and clammy
  • Pulse that’s faint and rapid
  • Cramps in stomach and/or muscles
  • Exhaustion
  • Dizziness and headache
  • Fainting
  • Sick to the stomach

If you or another worker is showing the above signs of heat exhaustion, move the affected person to a cool spot, loosen their garments, and apply cold compresses. The person should take small sips of water and seek professional medical care if they’re vomiting or if symptoms continue past an hour. 

Heatstroke is another medical emergency and always requires immediate medical care. Signs of heatstroke include the following:

  • Body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Skin that’s hot to the touch
  • Skin that’s red; skin that’s dry or damp
  • Dizziness and nausea
  • Disorientation
  • Loss of consciousness

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, you should move a person suffering from heatstroke to a cool location while another person (or you if you’re alone) contacts 911. Use cold, wet cloths to help lower the heat-affected person’s body temperature or assist the heat-affected person with a cool bath until first responders are on the scene. Never give a person with heatstroke a sip of water.