Have you ever driven by a group of people up on a roof, paving a road, or bent over in a field in the blazing midday sun and wondered, "how do they stand it?" Are you one of those workers, or someone doing hours of physical work in the summer heat? If so, you have probably heard that you should drink lots of water and take regular breaks in the shade. Maybe you have been told about the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and what to do if they occur. But in reality, you may have brought along one water bottle and you may feel driven to knock out one more task before taking a break. You may relish the challenge. Or you see a co-worker, farmer, or supervisor "busting ass" and feel like you have to do the same.
In this video, Sarah Taber, a "small farmer, crop scientist, & ex-farm worker" who blogs about "food, agriculture, and money" (@sarahtaber@mastodon.online), argues that if you show signs of heat exhaustion, you've waited too long. The time to act is when you get the "heat stupids." Farm work, even weeding, requires you to be aware, thoughtful, and strategic. If you use heavy machinery, it's a question of safety for yourself and others. As a member of a Colorado farm worker cooperative who does field work in hot weather, sometime in long, plastic covered tunnels (hotter, more humid), I have experienced the "heat stupids" and the associated "heat clumsies" first hand. And, like many workers, instead of seeing it for what it is, I have blamed myself for being absent-minded or distracted.
The "heat stupids" are not just caused by the weather, employers are responsible for creating the conditions. Taber is not afraid of talking politics and naming names. Humane work, convivial work, requires us to care for ourselves and others. This video is a must-see and must-discuss for anyone working in the heat.
-Matt Noyes
Brain Fog: the Heat Stress Sign No One Warned You About
New video is liiiiiiive youtu.be/B3bBvPXPCyg
I did a thread on Bluesky a week or two ago about "how to work when it's hot & humid & not die" and people liked it. So I made a video.
With bonus info on how Heat Stroke Is Political!
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