Summer's coming: Stay hydrated and watch for flag alerts Published May 28, 2008 By Senior Airman Sarah Jones 60th Aerospace Medicine Squadron TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Summer is creeping up again, and one of the problems we have during the hot months is heat stress. Heat stress is defined as any thermal stress above normal body temperature applied to the body, primarily from environmental factors, such as ambient temperature, relative humidity, wind and radiant heat from the sun. The body's exact response to these environmental conditions depends on physiological factors such as weight, physical fitness, age, alcohol consumption and acclimatization to the weather. These factors determine reactions to working in hot conditions, and it can be useful to learn other precautions to stay healthy and fit to fight. There are many ways to prevent these injuries before they happen. First and foremost, hydrate. Without hydrating (taking in fluids, like water or sports drinks), the most physically fit people in the world can be prone to heat stress. Hydration should take place according to light, medium and heavy workloads, and should not exceed one quart per hour or 12 quarts per day. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring water is available within a maximum of 200 feet of a primary work area. A worker can produce as much as eight to 12 liters of sweat, so it is essential that water and salt intake be about equal to the sweat that is produced. To replace the loss of salt in the body, sports drinks are approved to be provided by workplaces along with water. Please see AFM 10-101, Airman's Manual, and TAFI 48-102, Prevention of Heat Stress Disorders, for more information. People conducting outdoor activities on particularly hot days should obtain information concerning the Heat Stress Index and follow these preventive measures: -- Drink plenty of water [small amounts frequently throughout the day], -- Wear loose-fitting clothes, -- Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages if engaged in strenuous activities, -- Be aware of heat injury symptoms and first aid for heat injuries, -- Slowly acclimate yourself to the California heat [up to seven days], and, -- Modify activity schedules to perform the heaviest work at the coolest time of day The Travis Fitness Center will display colored flags to represent the Heat Index zones upon notification of the Heat Stress Advisory. The flag conditions are as follows: The current WGBT is reported to the base command post, the 60th Operations Support Squadron's Weather flight and the Travis Fitness Center, who report this information to other base organizations, as needed. Anyone on base can access the most current WBGT index by calling the Heat Stress Hotline at 423-1609. For more information on this topic, contact the 60th AMDS Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight at 423-5490.