Work Harder, Last Longer, Withstand the Heat
Cope with heat stress, improve performance, productivity and safety with elete Electrolytes.
Electrolytes aren't just for athletes. Workers in a number of specialized areas (agriculture, construction, mining, fire control, oil rig and field workers, factory workers, etc.) who are exposed to hot environments and/ or physically demanding conditions can be at significant risk of heat-related injury or even death from heat stroke, dehydration and exhaustion.
- Conduct energy
- Regulate fluid balance
- Transport nutrients
- Support proper muscle function
- Help convert calories into energy
- Regulate Ph and much much more
During 1992 to 2006, an estimated 423 workers in the United States, died from exposure to environmental heat (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2008). 57(24) 649-53.) Further, other risk factors such as age, the presence of certain pre-existing health conditions such as high blood pressure, whether the worker is taking certain prescription medications (diuretics, antihistamines, antibiotics, diabetes, etc.), workload, etc. can further increase a worker's risk of heat stress. Having an employee die on the job can cost an employer his business. Employees who are unable to work at optimal levels can mean a loss of competitive advantage for businesses.
Types of Heat Stress
Involves skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather. Heat rash presents as red, blister-like lesions usually on the chest, neck, groin, under breasts, inside elbows, etc.
Heat cramps occur when performing physical work in a hot environment. It is caused by dehydration and a loss of electrolytes from sweating. Muscles need electrolytes including magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chloride-not just sodium. Muscle cramps can be attributed to dehydration and an imbalance of or deficiency in electrolytes. Replacing salt or sodium chloride is not the "magic bullet" answer for muscle cramps. Cramps can be caused by too little electrolytes, imbalanced electrolytes and they can also be caused by too much sodium. Potassium and magnesium are the primary intracellular cations (positively charged ions) while sodium is the dominant extracellular cation. Magnesium, however, acts as the "team captain" of electrolytes and helps to keep electrolytes in proper balance within the body. To treat heat cramps, rest the affected muscles and drink electrolyte water made with elete™. elete™ provides nutritionally significant amounts of magnesium. Muscle cramps and spasms will usually strike arms or legs first, but can be a sign of increased risk for cramps or spasms the hardest working muscle in the body, the heart, which is usually called a heart attack.
Characterized by headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, extreme sweating, dark-colored urine, pale, clammy skin. Heat exhaustion is the body's natural response to significant losses of water and electrolytes. Workers are advised to rest in cool, shaded area or an air-conditioned area, to hydrate with water or other appropriate beverages. Oftentimes, a person will become confused or extremely irritable. They may or may not be able to answer the following questions: What is your name? Where do you live? Where are you? Often, victims of heat exposure will suddenly collapse or faint. This can be a sign of electrical conductivity problems in the nervous system.
A fainting episode or dizziness that occurs upon standing or rising suddenly from a sitting or prone position. Symptoms include light-headedness, dizziness, fainting. Workers should sit or lie in a cool, shaded place as soon as they begin to feel dizzy or light-headed and should slowly sip water, clear juice, etc.
Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to control its internal temperature. The body temperature increases dramatically, the sweating mechanism is unable to keep up with conditions or fails, and the body is unable to cool itself. The body temperature can rise to 40 degrees Centigrade (105 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit) in a span of 10 to 15 minutes. Many of the symptoms of heat stroke are similar to heat exhaustion. Heat stroke presents with the following symptoms: hot, dry skin, profuse sweating, hallucination, chills, headache, confusion, dizziness, high body temperature. For heat exhaustion and heat stroke, move the person to a cool, shaded location and lay them down. Loosen and remove any restrictive, heavy clothing. Try to cool the person either by fanning him or spraying a cool mist of water or applying cool, wet cloths or icepacks. Dial 999 and notify a supervisor immediately. Have the worker drink small amounts of cool water, preferably water fortified with elete™ Electrolyte Add-In.
Most sports drinks are laden with sugar and artificial preservatives that can work against high level hydration and are inappropriate for many in the work force
Most people are surprised to learn that the most popular sports drinks contain approximately 125gm of sugar calories every litre of beverage. This can taste great if you are only consuming 1 litre per day but if you are trying to stay hydrated over a full work shift and try to consume the 1 litre per hour that the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends, you would end up drinking a significant amount of 'hidden' sugar.
What happens in real work conditions is that workers start hydrating with sports drinks just fine, but when they have surpassed their tolerance level for sugar they stop hydrating and risk serious injury.
- Consumers of sports drinks will consume significant amounts of sugar long before they receive adequate amounts of fluid and electrolytes
- It's not uncommon for workers to complain of nausea, gastrointestinal (GI) distress while using high sugar hydration products
- Many workers and athletes complain of GI upset and nausea using sports drinks. Once this occurs, many will be reluctant to continue to drink a sports drinks in order to stay hydrated, prevent dehydration (vicious circle)
- Nausea and GI distress result in decreased productivity
- Many workers, especially older workers, who might have specific health conditions (hypertension, diabetes, etc.), sports drinks high in sodium and sugar can be contra-indicated by their doctor
- Over consumption of energy-dense sports drinks can lead to substantial weight gain in workers
- Sports drinks (powders) have to be dissolved and mixed according to the manufacturer's guidelines. Syrups are bulky to haul around and can be messy to clean up. Sticky-sweet drinks with heavy dyes can ruin work materials if spilled.
- Many workers have difficulty affording dental care. Consumption of sports drinks has been linked with accelerated enamel erosion, dental caries, etc. even compared with sodas.
When Safety and Performance Count, Count on elete Electrolytes
When the need to stay hydrated is difficult, elete™ Electrolyte products provide electrolyte solutions so that workers can continue working without feeling fatigued or light-headed.
elete ™ Electrolytes
- Help workers cope with heat stress
- Replace electrolytes lost in sweat
- Support proper muscle and mental function
- Are ideally suited for hydration over long shifts in heat-stress conditions
- Are economical, easy to mix, compact to store
- Don't require any extra clean up
Advantages of elete ™ Electrolytes for Workers
- Natural, healthy hydration (no added sugars, no artificial ingredients)
- Balanced electrolyte profile (Compare elete's four electrolytes vs. two electrolytes found in most sports drinks; elete™ Tablytes contain nine electrolytes)
- Reduce workers' risk of heat stress
- The most cost-effective solution available
- Flexible sizes offer value and convenience (from the empty pocket flask to the 480ml bottle - enough for 192 litres)
- elete™ contains magnesium, the "team captain" of electrolytes, essential for energy production, muscle function, electrolyte control
- When mixed as directed, elete™ adds minimal flavour to water
- Very easy to mix and use
- Clean up is easy. elete™ will not stain, leave a residue, or contribute to the growth of mould in coolers, hydration packs, canteens, etc.
- Will not contribute to GI distress
- elete's clean and clear taste encourages drinking
- Safe, Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS Status) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and regarded as a food supplement in the UK.
- In a published, peer-reviewed scientific study, those who drank plain water, drank 74% more water to achieve the same level of hydration as those who drank water with elete™ Electrolyte Add-In
- Backed by numerous testimonials from athletes (professional and amateur), coaches, trainers, teams, workers, used with great success by military personnel in treating severe cases of heat stress
- Certified free of all WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency)-banned substances
- Manufactured at a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices)-certified company. Certification provided by NSF International
- Tested for potency and purity at in-house quality assurance laboratory and independent, third-party labs
To learn more about elete Electrolytes and how elete™ can help you, please refer to the resources below or contact us