Going to the fields in the hot season, farmers need to protect their health

Ms. Tran Thi Tam uses a wide-brimmed cloth hat to shield herself from the sun when working outdoors. Photo: HOANG DAO

Adapting to the heat

At nearly 10 o'clock, Mrs. Tran Thi Tam (Phu Thinh town, Phu Ninh) was still working quickly to finish pulling up the peanuts that were ready to be harvested. Mrs. Tam said that on hot days, farmers rarely work more than 10 hours because working in harsh weather can easily lead to illness.

“Today the sun is less harsh and because I have family business in the afternoon, I have to work quickly. I have to wear two layers of coats and in addition to the conical hat, I have to wear another wide-brimmed hat to withstand the heat. I just work until I feel a little tired, then I worry about drinking some water to keep my body from getting weak,” said Ms. Tam.

According to Ms. Tam, the days of caring for and harvesting watermelons in the last crop were quite hard. To avoid the heat, people would go to the watermelon fields around 4 to 5 a.m., carrying flashlights to work. Then, at around 9:30 a.m. every day, everyone would return home and in the afternoon they would work later than other seasons, usually from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“Farmers’ work is inherently hard, so if we try to do it in the hot sun, we can easily get heatstroke or get exhausted. The weather has been very extreme these years, so our working habits have changed to be more suitable,” Ms. Tam added.

Farmers will go to the fields earlier and not work when the sun is hot to avoid heat stroke. Photo: HOANG DAO

Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Chuong (Tam Nghia commune, Nui Thanh) also has a way to avoid the heat while working by wearing a thicker fabric jacket and using a mini fan attached to the jacket.

This fan will help circulate air to cool his body, limiting the situation of sweat seeping back into the body. Mr. Chuong shared that when he returns home after work, he will use a towel to wipe his sweat and rest so that his body temperature does not change suddenly.

“Nowadays, the market sells shirts with built-in cooling fans, which are very convenient, so many farmers choose to buy them to wear while working. And when they feel a little tired, they immediately find a shade to rest, drink more water, or if the sun is too hot, they stop working to protect their health,” said Mr. Chuong.

Need to rehydrate and rest properly

Dr. Tran Thi Duyen - Head of the Emergency Department of Quang Nam Central General Hospital said that hot weather can easily lead to many diseases, of which heatstroke (also known as heat stroke) and heat exhaustion are common for outdoor workers.

"Heatstroke is caused by working in a harsh sunlight environment, while heatstroke is often caused by a hot working environment but the air there is not circulating. This leads to some skin damage, damage to many organs such as the nervous system, respiratory system and circulation.

The characteristic of skin damage is redness, burning and increased sweating. As for circulation, it can cause rapid pulse, respiratory, rapid breathing. As for the nervous system, it can easily cause confusion, the most severe symptom of the nervous system is that the patient has convulsions. In addition, it can cause weakness in the limbs, cramps" - Doctor Tran Thi Duyen said.

If a worker is found to be suffering from heatstroke, quickly remove the worker from the dangerous area and find a shady area. Then remove unnecessary clothing to allow the patient to cool down and help lower body temperature by applying cold compresses to areas that help reduce heat most quickly, such as the groin, armpits, and torso.

And when the patient is conscious, it is necessary to give them more water and electrolytes, and at the same time, immediately call medical staff to take them to the medical station or hospital in time.

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“Prevention during the hot season is very important. Workers should choose the right time to work, avoiding the time when the sun is strong and the peak of the sun has high temperatures. And especially drink enough water, drink water regularly even if you do not feel thirsty. You should rest periodically after about 45 minutes or 1 hour of continuous work in hot places, rest in a cool place for 10-15 minutes. In addition, you should wear a jacket and a wide-brimmed hat to cover up…”

BSCKII. Tran Thi Duyen - Head of Emergency Department - Quang Nam Central General Hospital.

[ VIDEO ] - BSCKII. Tran Thi Duyen gives advice to workers:

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/ra-dong-mua-nang-nong-nong-dan-can-bao-ve-suc-khoe-3154779.html