Can working in the heat all day cause brain 🧠 damage?

[Charliefretz329]

Cause at 109F today I was thinkfeelin a trifle slow…

Yep

Nope

I don't know, the heat makes it too hard for me to answer this question.

[Massageman]

The human brain- in RESTING state- in the average adult uses about 20-23% of the total energy use for that person. Put in terms of percentages, the brain- at about 2% of body weight (3#/150#= 1/50=2%)- consumes 20% of the energy, or about TEN TIMES- pound for pound- than the rest of the body! That is quite a load.

Relating that for moment to computers, the brain requires a "heat sink" much as do those man-made computers.

When someone suffers from overheat, what is the first thing a paramedic will do once the patient is secure? Cool them down. Seat the patient in an airflow, and place a damp towel on the head- SOP to heat issues. Evaporative cooling (more on this later). Have them slowly sip cool water, not iced.

While it would take repeated exposures of overheat top cause what could be diagnosed as "brain damage", even a few incidents will begin taking their toll on the brain, and, therefore, the body.

Working in the heat? Hydrate. Create shaded workspaces. Work in the early part of the day. Wear clothing appropriate to the situation. Hydrate. In situations with more workers, work in 3 groups: work 40 minutes, rest and hydrate for 20, and rotate every 20 minutes. Wear a tubular neckband containing water-absorbing polymer pellets, soak it, wear it. (The blood coming to/from the brain will be cooled through evaporative means). And did I mention hydrate?

[Goahead76]

I'm sure it's not good for you. I was out today in what must have been 120-130 over a parking lot. Felt like walking around in an oven.

[Charliefretz329]

I know that feeling bro

[dustybiker2]

Yes. Hydration is important to combat heat stroke. Periods of rest to recover too.

[Charliefretz329]

Sometimes I feel a bit fuzzy after a hot day lol. Gallons of water

[dustybiker2]

You need more than water. You can flush the much required minerals out of your system too. Adding hydration packets to the water is essential on demanding days.

[Charliefretz329]

Life in Florida 🤷🏻‍♂️. For all of us who don’t work Inside

[dustybiker2]

How you stand that humidity. Ugh.

[Charliefretz329]

It’s easy… I think of the years spent in the freezing drab north and the year I spent in the bone dry desert. I immediately feel better lol

[dustybiker2]

Humidity is the extreme I can't handle. Brave man.

[Charliefretz329]

Dry skin is far worse 🙂

[dustybiker2]

Lotion. Can't beat humidity my friend.

[Charliefretz329]

No lotion 🧴 worked for me in the desert. Nasal canals, toe webbing, and hands would crack open. Only with generous application of oil did I survive. Yuck

[dustybiker2]

That sounds awful. You must have been very dehydrated too. That is most of it. The body calling out for water and balance.

[chrissykerdock]

why do think someone on gag would know the answer

[NathanDavis]

a heat stroke can damage your brain, your heart and your kidneys as well

[exitseven]

Yes, you can get heat stroke and if it is bad you could get brain damage.

[Fireguy17]

yes, heat stroke is not good.

[Amandanator]

Yes please don’t over do it.