The Korey Stringer Institute of the University of Connecticut will add a new laboratory of 1 million US dollars that are devoted to preventing heat diseases if the temperatures rise every year due to climate change and the conditions for people who work outside are dangerous.
According to Dr. Robert Huggins, President of Professional Safety and Athlete's Achust for the Korey Stringer Institute, warmth, humidity, sunlight, height and other conditions while working outside.
The Korey Stringer Institute, which is located at the Uconn Campus in Storrs, is named after the Pro Bowl -Offensive -Line -Lineman for the Minnesota Vikings, which died of a heattroke during a training camp game in 2001. The new laboratory continues the growth of the institute, which was founded in honor of Stringer in 2010 to examine the effects of the heat on athletes. Since then, the institute has branched to study other professions, including military members and workers.
According to a 2024 study, the new laboratory takes place in which a group of KSI researchers reported that the provision of access to heat recovery strategies improves their health and productivity in simulated high diseases. Since then, companies in industries in which employees are regularly exposed to high heat, such as factories, construction and agriculture, KSI, how the employees are safe in the heat and can improve their productivity, said Huggins,
“We have a really big grip for heated diseases in the military and for athletes, we have many protective measures for population groups, including environmental monitoring, fluid intake, air conditioning and cooling modalities,” said Huggins. “But there is not so much research for the ergotic. Many companies have turned us to because they have concerns about heat security.”
Heat -related diseases can be fatal if they are not recognized and treated early, and often begins with muscle cramps or cramps, say experts. Heat creation and heat stroke can follow. Small children and infants, pregnant women, older people and people with chronic diseases are particularly susceptible, as are those who cannot deal well or who live alone.
“I am particularly concerned with the workers in Neuland because intensive temperature fluctuations are intense here,” said Huggins. “We didn't have really intensive heat before Sunday. But then the last few days were a massive heat level that people who were outside the outdoor area were not on any air conditioning. So the risk of heat disease is increasing if people are not gradually exposed to this heat stress.”
Huggins also said that Connecticut's climate is changing and on average warmer. The temperatures are also increasing, with the average temperature for 2024 over the average annual temperature of approx. 50 degrees Fahrenheit over the average annual temperature. Last year there were 23 days of temperatures of more than 90 degrees. The number of days with high temperatures was 52% higher than the average from 1960.
The symptoms of heat creation include severe sweating and tiredness, a weak pulse and skin, which is cool, pale or damp as well as headache, dizziness, nausea and fainting. Every person with symptoms should be moved to an air -conditioned room and offered sip of water.
“It gets hotter and people are far less resilient and adapted to the heat that is cold a recipe for a disaster,” said Huggins. Especially for someone with co-morbidity such as a cardiovascular problem, diabetes, a thyroid problem or someone who is bound by wheelchair rides, our older people and children. They are all the greatest risk of heat -related disease. “
Huggins said the money for the new laboratory was from the Uconn office of Vice President for Research. The office supervises all research activities in all Uconn locations, including Uconn Health. The OVPR manages research support and development, core research institutions, support for the support of grants, price events, research conformity and technology marketing, he said. The institute also receives federal subsidies and has supported the Federal Research at the National Institutes of Health and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
“We already have a laboratory, but we rejected companies and rejected money because we didn't have another laboratory,” said Huggins. “That is why Uconn has recognized the potential for this research because this is currently a massive need. We appreciate the investment of Uconn in our work and also our company partners, including Mission Cooling Gear and Magid. Magid, which has all possible cooling and moisture moisture -PSAPSA Psa -Psa rights on the new laboratory.”
The planned examinations include examining the effectiveness of different cooling towels and the equipment of the physiological functions of the workers, including heart rate, core temperature, tiredness and endurance. Other research areas will also monitor employees on site to send real -time data back to the laboratory, he said. Research helps companies support the best practices in order to protect employees in the heat and at the same time maintain productivity.
Huggins, however, said that research was also in time because the bid administration had proposed new rules through Osha to protect workers from heat-related diseases. If they are completed, these rules apply to both the work settings indoors and outdoors and require employers to implement measures such as the provision of water, rest breaks and acclimatization periods when the temperatures reach certain threshold values. The rule also prescribes training for employees about the risk of heat and implementation of a written heat injury and illness prevention plan.
However, the Trump government has signaled by Osha that these suggestions may be scrapped, he said. Leave thermal insulation for the workers up to the states. Some states he said have stricter protective measures that other states.
“These standards threatened last autumn before the current administration,” said Huggins. “Well, what we see is that many states have been converted into the individual heart security laws for employees in order to alleviate this heat stress. But unfortunately we have lost many people in the research foliage world that concerns heat studies and research. So we had to finance more corporate grants to finance research in this area.
Huggins said the new laboratory will have a groundbreaking and dedication ceremony in autumn.
Stephen Underwood can be reached at Sunderwood@courant.com.