What is heat stress and how can it affect you?
As summer progresses and the temperature continues to rise, heat stress is making its appearance. Heat stress is a buildup of body heat generated internally by muscle use or externally by the environment. If heat stress progresses, heat stroke may occur. With temperatures rising this summer, looking for signs of heat stress in others and your animals is important. Signs of heat stress may include:
- High Body Temperature
- Hot, Red, Dry, or Damp Skin
- Fast, Strong Pulse
- Headaches
- Nausea
If these signs are observed, it is important to monitor and continue the steps until the person’s body temperature is regulated again. However, if the symptoms continue to get worse, a medical professional needs to be called immediately.
While it is important to be vigilant in looking for signs of heat stress, taking the proper precautionary measures to avoid it is also important. You can prevent heat stress by staying hydrated and drinking fluids regularly. It is also important to wear appropriate clothing and acclimate to the warm weather slowly.
Now that you know how to keep yourself and others safe, you must learn how to protect your livestock. Some ways we can protect them include:
- Ventilation systems are functioning properly
- Ensure temperature alarms work if they are present
- provide clean, fresh water at all times
- Allow for open, shaded areas
- Change feed times to cooler parts of the day so that animals do not overheat while eating
These precautionary measures allow us to keep our animals and ourselves safe during rising summer temperatures. For more information visit Beating the Heat on Farms article in the CORN Newsletter Issue 2024-19. Staying safe in the summer sun can be accomplished by watching for signs of heat stress and taking the proper measures to avoid heat stress entirely.