Tulsa Firefighters Issue Heat-Exposure Advice

Tulsa firefighters want to remind people - and their employers - to practice safety over the next few days of high temperatures. Captain Stan May said over the next few days, the Tulsa area will experience heat indexes as high as 110-plus degrees, which can cause illness and death.

That's especially important for people who are attending outdoor events and working outside.

"Please remind employees to follow your work group’s plan for working in hot weather and refresh employees on the symptoms and emergency procedures for heat exhaustion and heat stroke," he said in a news release.

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Even off the job, people need to remember to follow the following safety practices to protect family, friends and pets from over-exposure to heat.

• Hydrate properly and often with water on and off the job.
• Eat light meals.
• Avoid using high sugar and high caffeine drinks while working in the heat.
• Use cooling devices such as cooling towels, fans and portable shade shelters when applicable.
• Take frequent short breaks out of the heat in a cooler location such as shade and in a well ventilated area. Indoor work locations can be extremely hot and stuffy too. Ensure employees are aware of their environment and plan accordingly to avoid heat exhaustion/stroke while working indoors.
• Work during the cooler part of the day when possible or reschedule work to a cooler season when possible.
• Have check-in procedures in place for employees especially if they have to work alone. Have a way for employees to communicate to emergency services in case of emergencies.
• Monitor each other especially employees new to working in high heat situations and employees with challenging health conditions.