Arizona is a beautiful state to live in, and can be a fantastic place to work. However, one of the most painful realities of being here during the summer months is the high temperatures that come along with longer days and more daylight hours to complete construction projects. Combine these factors with summer being a peak season for the construction industry, and you have a recipe for heat exhaustion.

Heat exhaustion is the result of your body not being able to cool itself down, and the primary cause is a combination of hot weather and strenuous activity. There is no practical way to avoid this combination while working on a construction, but knowing the signs and symptoms can keep it from becoming a serious issue.

Mayo Clinic has put together a helpful list of warning signs that you may be suffering from heat exhaustion. It includes:

• experiencing effects of low blood pressure when you stand up
• fatigue
• feeling dizzy or like you might faint
• feeling nauseous
• having goosebumps and skin that is cool and moist to the touch when you are out in the heat
• having a pulse that is weak and rapid
• muscle cramps
• sweating heavily

If you think you might be dealing with heat exhaustion, their advice is simple. Stop doing whatever you are doing as soon as you realize what is going on.  Find a cooler spot, like a shaded or air-conditioned area of the work site, where you can rest. Once you are there drink cool fluids like water or sports drinks. Do not return to work until you are sure you have recovered, and call your doctor if it gets worse or you are still experiencing symptoms more than an hour after you stopped.

Trying to work on a construction project in the heat of an Arizona summer can be brutal, but it does not have to end in heat exhaustion. Always be aware of the signs and signals your body is trying to give you, and take a break when you need to. Your safety and the safety those you work with could be at stake if you try to work through it.