Josefa Melgar, a Moorpark, CA, letter carrier, delivers mail recently.

As the weather begins to warm up, the Postal Service is reminding employees of ways to prevent heat-related illnesses during the coronavirus pandemic.

Employees exposed to hot and humid conditions are at risk of heat illness. It’s important to remember to stay cool and safe.

Because the coronavirus can spread between people in close proximity to each other, employees should adhere to social distancing guidelines — staying at least 6 feet apart — whenever possible.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.

Employees who experience difficulty breathing or discomfort as a result of the heat while wearing a face covering should remove the covering until the discomfort ceases.

However, if the employee decides to remove the face covering, they should continue to practice social distancing when they come into contact with others, and sneeze or cough into their elbow or a tissue.

Here are some tips to prevent heat-related illnesses:

• Hydrate before, during and after work
• Dress appropriately for the weather, including wearing light-colored, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to keep your body temperature down on warm days
• When possible, use shaded areas to stay out of direct sunlight

These are the signs of heat stress:

• Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
• Headache
• Confusion or dizziness
• Nausea
• Muscle cramps
• Weakness or fatigue
• Rash

Employees who experience signs of a heat-related illness should call 911 and notify their supervisor.

The Safety Blue page has more information.

Related: USPS Mandatory Stand-Up Talk: Face covering and mask update (4/21/20)

Source: USPS