July 17, 2020

Anna Murray 

Health experts often refer to summer heat as a silent killer. Global warming due to climate change will increase the chances of summer conditions that may be too hot for humans to work in jobs that expose them to potentially life-threatening conditions such as being out in the open farms and building sites or indoors in factories and hospitals. While a recorded 138,000 Americans died from the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people around the world could be exposed to dangerous levels of heat stress in a dangerous condition which can cause human organs to shut down.

Since the 1950s, the US military has used a system known as the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) to work out guidelines for keeping soldiers safe. The WBGT measures heat, humidity, and other factors to yield a realistic description of the summer conditions. For example, when the WBGT reaches 29°C, the US military is recommended to suspend exercise for anyone not acclimatized. When the WBGT registers 32°C, the US military would stop strenuous training because of extreme risk.

To avoid heat-related health problems, people ought to drink plenty of fluid prior to start work, take regular breaks, and then drink again at rest. In addition, to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic, people ought to continue practices such as wearing a mask, using hand sanitizer, and keeping social distancing if possible.