Why It’s Important To Take Breaks And Stay Hydrated in the Lawn Care Business?
October 6, 2021
In this video
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A reminder to take care of yourself while on the job
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The importance of taking breaks and staying hydrated
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The symptoms and problems of having heat stroke
We’re just now getting into the fall season, but that doesn’t mean we should start forgetting about the dangers of working long hours in the sun.
If you’re like me and you live in a hot southern state like Texas, you know that the summer heat can last well past September. So today, I want to remind you all of how important it is to hydrate and to take breaks throughout your work day.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), those of us working in hot weather conditions should be drinking one cup of water every 15 minutes.
I know it may be tempting to work yourself into overdrive and squeeze out as many jobs as you can before the weather starts to turn, but trust me--no job is worth your health.
Watch this video to hear my advice on why you should remember to put your health and safety first while working outdoors.
PLUS: Did you know that once you get heatstroke for the first time, you’re more likely to get it again in the future? For more tips on staying safe in the workplace, check out this archive of articles from the NALP, right here on ECHO Means Business.
Video Transcript
Good morning everyone — Ma here with Dirty Deeds with another health tip.
As a lot of you know, we live in southeast Texas, and it gets hot. Some days, the temps will say 90, 95, but with that heat index, you're looking at into the triple digits.
Now for those of you that are in areas that get just as hot, you know how bad it can get when you're out in that heat all day. You have got to make sure you're hydrating.
Whatever size [bottle] you need, you got it — or even if you got a bottle, fill it with that ice water. You've got to pace yourself. Heat strokes, heat exhaustion — they’re no joke.
A few years back, I had a heat stroke. It took me two weeks to recover. It's not fun. And once you have one, you're highly more prone to another one.
So whatever you do when you're out there: pace yourself.
If you start to get that headache, you start to feel woozy — stop. That job and that money is not more important than your health, trust me.
Make a point to take breaks. If you start feeling hot and feeling woozy and you're not sweating, that's not a good sign. That means you're starting to dehydrate. That means you are on the verge of heat exhaustion — or even worse — hospitalized because of a heat stroke.
Come on guys and gals, make sure you're taking time to take breaks, especially with this heat. You want to be there for your family. You want to be there for yourself.
Take breaks. Don’t let that money burn you — literally. It will always be there. And if it's not on that yard, it will be on the next.
Take your health seriously. Trust me, you're worth more than just that yard.
All right, guys — it’s another health tip from Ma at Dirty Deeds. Y’all have a nice day now and keep it going.
And as we say here:
“If it is to be, it’s up to me.”