Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Heat exhaustion

So last Friday, I'm doin my usual thing here at work, towing airplanes from the concourse to the hangar, but this time, it's 106 degrees outside. My supervisor takes me to the tug, and shows me how well the air conditioning is working, so I hop in, and about halfway to the concourse, the stupid thing starts blowing warm air...I figure I can hang, and continue to the gate to hook up to a 737. Can't get any support from the ramp people, or a jetway driver to move the jetway so I can grab the plane, so I sit....20 minutes later, I hear the jetway bell ringing, and I commence to grab the nose gear with the tug, and lift her up. Chocks pulled, clearance out of the gate granted, I push the bird out onto the ramp, where again, Im told to hold position. By this time, I'm completely soaked, and ask ramp control to get me moving, as the temp inside the tug is sweltering. 3 to 4 minutes later, I get clearance to hold short of taxiway "F", and contact Atlanta ground. At this point, there's probably 5 or 6 RJ's (regional jets) in front of me, and I know it's gonna be at least another 12 to 15 minutes before I can even call Atlanta for instructions. Finally number one at Ramp 4, I call ground and tell them my intentions.."Tug 32, hold position"....So I did, another 4 or 5 minutes, sweating bullets the whole time. I finally get cleared out of ramp 4, and fall in line behind an endless line of aircraft awaiting takeoff clearance. Probably 25 to 30 planes in all. Luckily, they allow me to bypass via taxiway "E", and Im told to hold short runway 26 left at Charlie, and to monitor tower frequency. Now this lady is EFFICIENT...She's clearing aircraft for takeoff before the previous aircraft has even rotated, and the monotony of her voice, the heat, and the fact that I could'nt keep my eyes open, finally got to me. The next thing I knew, some guy was yelling, at the top of his lungs, "HEY...WAKE UP!!!" I looked around, and the whole north side of the airport was stopped. "Are you alright?", and Im like, uh, I don't think so...Do you have any water?"....Yeah, Yeah, get out, get in the truck (Airport Operations vehicle). I was totally saturated, and the headache I had was excruciating. "Call Echo, I need an amubulance out here" he said over his radio, and before I knew it, I was strapped in a stretcher being loaded into an airport ambulance with some crazy lady trying to stick a needle in my arm. A co-worker took my place in the tug, and proceded across both north runways with the airplane, and I was rushed to Atlanta medical center thru rush hour traffic, where I got ANOTHER bag of fluids (4 in all), then released to go home.
Nothing really has changed here, with the exception of a cooler full of Gatorade in the hangar. All 3 tugs are still questionable as far as air conditioning. I just make sure I drink ALOT of water now, and stick my head out the window alot.....

Mark,

Close call man. Glad you came through that one with minimal damage.

Dangerous situation for sure.

Out on the hot concrete/asphalt, with all those jet engines exhausting hot air, in addition to the 106 average temp.

REALLY glad YOU were the one to tell us the story!

Wow, It can come on real fast. I do realize that it seems like an eternity when you're that uncomfortable but next thing you know it is too late and your in trouble. Glad it worked out in the end.

mike

Yeah, really easy way to die. Glad you're OK. The trick is to stay ahead. As much as possible, pound cold fluids. Be careful, my friend.

I suppose a "tug" is a truck of some sort, with windows? Anyway, gotta be hotter than Hades on all that asphalt. Hard to imagine...

Heat exhaustion is some scary stuff, glad you doing well now.

Glad you're ok. You may want to consider getting a camelbak . I used to used these all the time when I was working the flight deck or out on the tarmac. Having water with me all the time was a lifesaver and I also would fill it up with ice first and the whole thing helped keep me alot cooler.

Woooah! Pushing a 737 out on the hot tarmac and passing out. Glad your ok and glad our natural reflex is for our muscles to relax.(and the gas peddle did not stick)

As another flightline worker I know that the summer heat is no joke when you are out there. I'm glad you are alright and things could have been a lot worse especially with a/c taxing to get out

Maybe someone can verify what I heard once that at any one given time 64,000 people are airbourne over America.
This could be the $64,000 question.
Glad you got some help even if it wasn't from management ensuring the standards for machinery was right up there were it should be.

Any time temps get above 90 degrees with 60+% humidity, a person can get in real trouble. The environment is such that even if the body isn't dehydrated yet, sweat won't evaporate fast enough to cool the body. To avoid this, wear loose light colored clothing and a hat, drink at least 8oz of water an hour, an occasional sports drink can help replenishment electrolytes, stay away from caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. Be aware that diabetics, the over weight, some medications and blood pressure problems among others can make one susceptible to heat exhaustion.

Heat exhaustion can be brought on by both lack of electrolytes or water in the system. If you feel it coming on, get to a cool place, slam water and get help. Heat exhaustion can develop into heat stroke, which can cause serious damage to one's body, including permanent brain damage or death.