APRN Rural Scholar student project by Cyrille Hopkins, BSN, RN East Carolina University

1. HEAT INJURY
AMONG
FARMERS
CYRILLE HOPKINS, BSN, RN
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

2. HEAT EXPOSURE
 Hot environment/direct
sunlight
 North Carolina: highest rate
of heat fatalities
(2.4/100,000)
 Summer months: manual
work with tobacco; sunny,
hot, humid
 Males (74%), white-skinned
non-Hispanics (48%),
Hispanics (31%), blacks
(16%)
(Donham & Thelin, 2016)

3. DISORDERS
DUE TO HEAT
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

4. HEAT CRAMPS
Consume large amount of water
without salts in hot weather
Weakness, slow muscle
contractions, severe muscle
spasms
Dizziness, malaise, vomiting
Prevent: Drink water (up to 1 liter
per hour); Salt tablets or mild salt
solution (1 teaspoon or 6g per liter
of water)
Sports drinks
Move to cool location, rest few
days
(Donham & Thelin, 2016)

5. HEAT EXHAUSTION
 Prolonged exposure to heat + not enough water/salt
 Fatigue, exhaustion, thirst, headache, weakness
 Temperature: >38 degrees; moist skin; heart rate increased
 Prevention: Continuous fluid replacement
 THIRST IS NOT A GOOD INDICATOR OF WATER LOSS
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
(Donham & Thelin, 2016)

6. HEAT SYNCOPE
Disturbed blood distribution
Decreased blood pressure, blood flow to other organs (brain)
Sudden unconsciousness
Long periods of standing + strenuous work
HELP: Recumbent position, move to cooler place
(Donham & Thelin, 2016)

7. HEAT STROKE
 MEDICAL EMERGENCY! CALL 911!
 High body temperature, lost or reduced sweating, confusion,
coma, convulsions
 Decreased blood pressure
 Skin hot and dry
 Can cause damage to heart, liver, kidneys
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY
(Donham & Thelin, 2016)

8. SKIN DISORDERS
 Intertrigio: obese
 Skin folds, groin, axilla
 Good hygiene, weight reduction
 Heat rash (miliaria)
 Sweat glands: inflamed, obstructed
 Heat urticaria
 Swollen plaques; localized or generalized
 Antihistamines
 No corticosteroids!
 Self-limiting; resolve in 24-48 hours
(Donham & Thelin, 2016)

9. INFERTILITY
 Male infertility
 Working in hot
environment
 Loss of semen quality
 Risk for cancer of testis
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND
(Donham & Thelin, 2016)

10. PREVENTION OF HEAT INJURIES
 Worker acclimatization
 Adequate water supply
 Adjust working methods
 Appropriate clothing
 Tractor cabs
(Donham & Thelin, 2016)

11. REFERENCE
 Donham, K. J., & Thelin, A. (2016). Agricultural medicine: Rural occupational and environmental health, safety,
and prevention. Hoboken, New Jersey, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.