Extreme Heat Survival Guide: Myths About Heat And The Body
Myths And Misconceptions About Heat And The Body
MYTH 1: It Takes Very High Temperatures to Create Extreme Heat in the Body!
REALITY: i) Air Temperature is only one factor in determining Heat threat. Workplaces with lower temperatures of 70°F or 21.1°C can present a heat hazard, especially with high workloads and high humidity - OSHA technical manual. High humidity impedes sweat evaporation, reducing the body's cooling efficiency and making it feel hotter than the actual air temperature. With relative humidity at 100% sweat will not evaporate. The heat index is calculated using a complex formula that incorporates air temperature in Fahrenheit and relative humidity as a percentage. For example, if the relative humidity is less than 13% and the temperature is between 80°F and 112°F, a specific adjustment is subtracted from the HI, lowering the heat index. Conversely if the temperature is 86°F and relative humidity is 90% the heat index is actually 105°F, making heat related illness more likely to occur.
ii) At 82°F or 28°C Exertion Fatigue Occurs Prematurely.
"Effects of Radiation on Human Body and Physical Fatigue...", (SAGE Journals, Dec 2020) - A high temperature environment could cause exercise fatigue to occur prematurely. Moreover, the study suggests that the critical point for early occurrence of fatigue sensation in a moving human body is 82.4°F or 28°C.
MYTH 2: Heat Index Is A Good Indicator of Heat in the Body!
REALITY: Heat Index does not include wind speed, solar radiation, infrared radiation and convective heat. Temperatures from the radiation, surrounding environments and surfaces, such as buildings, and heat absorbing ground materials like asphalt and concrete significantly influences the heat of the body core. From the US EPA study, "What are Heat Islands" - These materials retain heat and radiate it back into the environment, exacerbating heat stress for city inhabitants. Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index (WBGT) incorporates air temperature, humidity, wind speed and solar radiation. While WBGT offers a general sense of perceived temperature, it does not fully capture the full impact of direct solar radiation that is crucial for accurately assessing heat stress and implementing effective cooling strategies.
MYTH 3: Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Accurately Predicts Heat Stress!
REALITY: The globe temperature sensor (a black globe thermometer) absorbs solar radiation, infrared radiation, and convective heat. While this captures the overall impact of sunlight—including some effects of UV radiation—it does not directly measure UV intensity. OSHA - Exposure to direct sunlight significantly elevates the body's heat gain beyond what the heat index indicates. Studies have shown that damaging ultraviolet rays from direct solar radiation creates a higher heat load and can cause physiological heat stress at the same ambient temperature compared to shaded conditions. Direct exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays can increase thermal radiation absorbed by the body and elevate core temperatures by 15°F or 8.3°C compared to shaded areas.
MYTH 4: Fans Increase Air Movement And Are Effective In Cooling the Body!
REALITY: Although air movement is necessary in the evaporation of perspiration and cooling the body. Fans can give a false feeling of cooling. Fans alone are insufficient for cooling purposes and may exacerbate heat exposure and circulate hot air, especially in areas where ambient or environmental temperatures exceed 95F or 35°C. Air conditioning spaces with cold therapy targeting the body core are the best ways to effectively and quickly cool the body. “When temperatures soar, steps like drinking enough fluids and heading to an air-conditioned location can be critical to avoiding serious health emergencies,” says David Della-Giustina MD, a Yale Medicine emergency medicine specialist with expertise in wilderness medicine."
LESSON: Actual temperatures and heat indices are good indicators in gauging your core body temperature based on external factors that influence the temperature of the body's core, however your body's core temperature may differ significantly. The only way to lower core body temperature is to lower, reduce, eliminate or stop the factors that generate heat in the body.
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