Credit: Julia Avamotive
Triple-digit temperatures blanketed the area last week and that have impacted anyone who had to be outside.
Advertisements
People working outdoors needed to be careful of heat-related illnesses because of how long they are outdoors and the type of work they usually do.
It is especially true with landscapers. They are outside for hours on end and are doing strenuous jobs like mowing the lawn, trimming shrubs, and even building patios.
Dave Gates, owner of Best Buddies Landscaping in New Hope, knows this firsthand. He understands how hot it can get, including for college students, who make up a portion of his summer staff.
Advertisements
“We really try to get ahead of it and find out who wants to work,” Gates said.
The heat can have impacts on who is able to work outside and when that happens, which can mean earlier starts, Gates said.
Advertisements
No matter the time crews start or how much cool water they drink, the hot temperatures can easily make it overwhelming.
Bristol Borough Postmaster Ayofemi Grandy said that postal carriers carry water bottles on them and are provided with cooling packs and electrolytes throughout the day as they walk to mailboxes.
There are plenty of summer camps in the county that parents send kids to for them to have fun and do something while they are at work and to keep busy.
Advertisements
One of the major parts of many of those camps is being outside. However, that can become harder when the temperature is high, especially since younger kids are at a higher risk of heat-related problems.
Matt Zipin, the assistant parks and recreation director for Newtown Township spoke about what the township’s camp does to help keep the kids cool.
“We try to keep them indoors as much as possible,” said Zipin. “All our schools (where the camps meet) have air conditioning.”
Credit: Submitted
There are also times where Zipin has changed the schedule around to accommodate the kids and keep them safe in the stifling heat. Water play is also used to keep campers cool.
On Mill Street in Bristol Borough, the usually busy street with multiple businesses was pretty sparsely populated last Thursday as the temperature passed 100 degrees.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewHopeFreePress.com
At pizza shop Itri Slice on Mill Street, employee Victoria said that business has been slow due to the weather and holiday weekend.
After an early summer heatwave, cooler temperatures are expected for this week, giving a reprieve for those having to go outside.
