Greg shares tips for staying safe in summer heat in this episode of Ask The Expert. 800 CHAB radio presents Ask the Expert with Greg Marcyniuk of Heritage Insurance located in Moose Jaw.
Here's a full transcript of the episode.
Rob Carnie: It's that time of year.
We want to get out and get 'er done, whether it's at work or at play. But you've got to keep safety in mind at all times. And here to talk about that, Greg Marcyniuk, our insurance expert on 800 CHAB's Ask The Expert from Heritage Insurance, of course.
Greg, you're like me. Summertime, you like to play hard. But you've got to work hard, too, and sometimes we forget about safety.
Greg Marcyniuk: Well, that's right. When you're outside and you're working, it's important to take precautions against exposure to the sun, heat, and bug bites as well during the summer months.
So first and foremost, the sun is very dangerous, so it's great to have protection against the harmful UVs. So first of all, you want to cover up, wear lightweight, tightly-woven clothing.
Use a sunscreen. Typically a sunscreen factor of 15 will block 93% of the UV rays. And well, wear a hat. It should protect your neck, your ears, forehead, and nose. And also, wear UV absorbent shades. Sunglasses should block between 99 to 100% of the UV and UVB rays. Again, it's very important to beat the heat and you should take these following precautions.
Always drink plenty of water before you get thirsty. Wear light, loose-fitting, breathable clothing, eat smaller meals before work, skip the caffeine and drink water instead, and be aware that equipment — such as respirators or work suits, they can increase heat stress quite dramatically. The other thing that we've got to be very cautious when you're outdoors is ticks.
And wear light-colored clothing to see ticks more easily. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Tuck your pant legs into your socks or boots. Wear high boots or closed shoes that cover your feet completely. And again, wear a hat. Use a tick repellent and, again, don't put that on your face. It can cause a lot of harm to your eyes, and nose, and mouth.
And wash and dry your work clothes in high heat. And of course, when it comes to insect bites and stings, bees, wasps, hornets, any yellowjacket stings are typically only dangerous to those who are allergic to them or if you've been bitten multiple times. So just makes common sense to wear bug repellent, avoid wearing heavy perfumes, scented lotions, and biggest thing is check before drinking from cups, soda, bottles, or cans because these stinging insects are typically attracted to sweet drinks.
So just be safe out there. Enjoy your work in this beautiful weather.
Rob: Summer safety tips for when you're on the job this summer from Greg Marcyniuk at Heritage Insurance. We can find these tips and a whole lot more information on safety and insurance on your website.
Greg: That's correct. Heritageinsurance.ca or come on down the corner of Fairford and First Northwest and we'd be more than happy to provide any information and talk to you about any of your insurance needs.
(Video transcription by Speechpad)