A period of very hot weather is …expected or about to occur…. Here are some things you can do to prepare for it.

1. Drink plenty of fluids. During hot to drink.
2. Replace salt and minerals. Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. These are necessary for your body and must be replaced. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. However, if you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.
3. Schedule outdoor activities carefully. If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your body’s thermostat will have a chance to recover.
4. Pace yourself. If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or at least into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.
5. Use a buddy system. When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness.
6. Don’t leave children or pets in cars. Even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes. Anyone or any pet left inside is at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death. Children who are left unattended in parked cars are at greatest risk for heat stroke, and possibly death.

Courtesy of the National Weather Service

Hagerstown, Maryland, has always been known as a “Hub” city but now the paths that converge here are often hiking and biking trails. Because of our biking-friendly roads, the C&O Canal, our parks, and our well-marked urban bicycling lanes, Hagerstown was officially recognized by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bicycle Friendly Community.

Just ten years ago Hagerstown had virtually no biking lanes. Now, thanks to public support, the support of local government, and Bicycle Advisory Committee, Hagerstown has over ten miles of urban bicycle lanes, bike racks are abundant, and the city hosts several well-known racing events including the USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships.

 

Congratulations to Hub Labels, The Arc of Washington County, the Washington County Health Department, and Fahrney-Keedy! These local organizations have all been recognized for their commitment to supporting health and wellness programs in the workplace.

From the Maryland Department of Health:

On Friday, June 1, 58 Maryland employers were recognized as Healthiest Maryland Businesses Wellness at Work Awardees for their exemplary accomplishments in worksite health promotion. Howard Haft, MD, Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health, congratulated awards recipients at the 9th Annual Maryland Workplace Health & Wellness Symposium, noting, “In public health, we strive to improve health through community-based efforts. Worksites are one place that many Marylanders spend a majority of their day and are a crucial setting in which to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Congratulations to all of the 2018 Wellness at Work Awards recipients.”

The Wellness at Work Awards are sponsored by Healthiest Maryland Businesses, the state’s initiative to support healthy workplaces. Any Maryland employer who is a member of Healthiest Maryland Businesses is eligible to apply, and there is no cost to be a member. Recognition criteria are based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Workplace Health Model and applicants are asked to describe activities and share examples of policies and tools developed and utilized in the four areas of assessment, planning and management, implementation, and evaluation.

Employers may earn a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or On the Path award based on their activities to establish leadership support for wellness, create wellness committees, survey the needs and interests of their employees, set health improvement goals, and develop monitoring tools to track their outcomes over time. A complete list of recognized businesses can be found at www.healthiestMDbusinesses.org/awardsprogram .

Launched in 2010 and based at the Maryland Department of Health, Healthiest Maryland Businesses helps businesses create customized wellness plans, set wellness goals, and monitor progress. Six regional coordinators around the state provide personalized guidance to businesses of all sizes. To date, more than 270 businesses have signed on to take advantage of this program. To learn more about Healthiest Maryland Businesses services or membership, visit www.healthiestMDbusinesses.org.