Heat is too much. Can I do anything?

[ThreeOneZero]

If anyone could help me out, I can't do this anymore with this heat. Ive been an RCA for almost 2 years and this has been brutal on me for my 2nd Summer. Had to go to the ER recently for heat exhaustion and muscle cramps(workers comp).Came back to work after doc said it was okay and I could not finish my route on an easy Monday. Took about an hour or more of breaks(when I do 30mins or less). had to go back to the office and refill my water and I had to call for help at the end because I felt like I was gonna pass out.They sent help, last one back, and after I came back from the office (clearly sick), supervisor says "be here tomorrow as scheduled". Even though no regulars were taking the day off, but one (my primary).I didn't get time to recover and worked the next day as well as scheduled. Regulars saw me pale (asking are you okay) but I battled through it. The same thing happened, my water ran out and had to go back to the office(im the only one doing this). I am drinking a gallon of water +, my piss is clear. I had to drench myself every so often with ice cold water from my ice chest or I would not have been able to complete, completely soaked from head to toe. The LLV and heat (117 degress outside today) is what gets me. Muscle cramps, headaches, hand control loss, tiredness, etc. The regulars that are ready to retire are even beating me, when I'm usually early out and back to the office.  Can they accommodate me at all (passable for me would be around 100-105 degrees, not 117) or am I SOL? <strong>I like the job, customers, pay but </strong>I don't think I can continue doing it like this.   

 

[Gotrope]

Once you have had a heat related incident you are much more susceptible to future heat exhaustion.  So, if you are working multiple days in a row, by the third day you can be in  extreme danger of heat exhaustion. Which can be fatal. Anytime it is over 100 and you drive an llv take at least 2 gallons of water with you as you may need it. Especially if your totally reliable llv breaks down. Another thing you can do is get a chill towel( they are magically cold) and keep it in your cooler. Use it to wipe down your neck, face and ears. Those are the fastest evaporative parts on your body to cool down. Avoid all caffeinated/alcoholic drinks until the weather cools down as they dehydrate you. Try to eat less meat and more veggies/green stuff. The green veggies assist in oxygen binding on your red blood cells. Start drinking water before you leave for the road. Be Hydrated before you go out to the oven. Run through sprinklers if you can( let's see that on a scanner text). If you are over 50 your body will start to work harder and be less efficient about regulating your temperature. Next time try explain to the doctor it is 20 degrees hotter in the vehicle than out. And ask for an IV drip to hydrate you. It works better than drinking and makes OSHA log it as a heat related incident.Some people have put ice cubes in their hats. Whatever gets you back alive.

 

[RCA325]

The best thing I've found is an Aflamo (sp?)cool towel I got off Amazon. It only cost about 7 bucks. I typically will soak it in the morning and maybe once on the route. I keep it draped over my neck and shoulders. It has made a pretty sizeable difference for me.

 

[dumbolehickfromms]

One thing I do to help with heat is keep house at 78 to 80 degrees and use fans.   AC will keep the humidity down so 78 is pleasant.   That way when you go from inside to outside it isn't that big of a change.    I used to work frozen foods before the PS, 90 degrees was unbareable!!!   I quit when became RCA and started mowing on my off days.     Riding in a car is much cooler than running a trimmer all day long.    At that time house didn't have central air and only one window unit in the bedroom.   I would turn it on after mowing for about an hour and them cut it off until bedtime,    You have to do things like that to get acclimated to heat.  Otherwise you can die!!

 

[callofthewild]

You may just need to ask yourself "is it worth it"?  I don't want to be a Debbie Downer but this job is not worth your life.  It sounds to me like you have had heat exhaustion and once you have had heat exhaustion you can't tolerate the heat as well.  Before you give it up......try a cool rag, and start drinking the night before, stay away from caffeine.....the best of luck to you.....

 

[littlesew&sew]

I suffered from heat stroke about 20 years ago and ever since then I have to be extremely careful in the heat. I have overdone it in the heat several times since then, and now I'm to the point where I have to be careful once the temperature hits about 80.

The best advice I can give you is to listen to your body. Know your limits! If you are to the point of nausea, you're already in trouble.

I drink a lot of water. When I know I will be out in the heat, I alternate 2 bottles of water then one of Gatorade. Drink before you are thirsty. Damp towels or cooling rags on the back of my neck work for me. Adding in something with an extra bit of sugar helps sometimes, like a juice pouch. Make sure to get calories also so you have energy.

If I ever had to use an LLV, I would have to quit my job. I know that my body couldn't take it.

 

[btdtret]

ThreeOneZero -- Plenty of useful hints provided by those with experience in the hot and humid conditions.

"Had to go to the ER recently for heat exhaustion and muscle cramps(workers comp)." "I had to call for help at the end because I felt like I was gonna pass out." "Regulars saw me pale (asking are you okay) but I battled through it. ". " Muscle cramps, headaches, hand control loss, tiredness, etc."

-- IMPRESS upon the doctor of those symptoms!! May need to get doctor's note limiting your work in high temperature / humidity conditions. Manglement will not like it. Could mean losing your job -- but you will be alive!

-- Has manglement given a stand-up on heat-related symptoms and treatments?

-- If feeling ill out on the route, call for an ambulance to go to the ER. As you have found out, if you return to the office, manglement will just send you back out.

-- City carriers have been sent back out when they returned to the office because of heat-related problems -- and have died. Sure, OSHA may fine the office $70,000 but doesn't do the carrier or the family any good.

" my water ran out and had to go back to the office(im the only one doing this)."

-- Ask the other carriers what the drink out on the route and how much they take.

-- You should be drinking lots of water while in the office, before heading to the streets. If you feel thirsty out on the route, you are behind the hydration curve.

 

[gotstamps]

In my LLV, I keep the windows rolled down on Driver’s side & 1/4 down on tray-side (security) with the fan on FULL Blast. I keep a small cooler next to me with 2 waters, 1 large BodyArmour (better than Gatorade), a V8 Energy drink, & a box drink. There’s also a banana, a meal shake, cheese sticks, & a cup of mini cookies.
I keep a Good reusable Water Bottle filled with ice & water & add the water in the cooler to refill it. A cooling towel helps a little but I like my cooling Ballcap the most.
I like coffee so half-caff is my go-to. There is a Soda in my cooler but that’s my AFTER-Treat & has no caffeine. I drink water at night & in the morning.
My Day Off does make the workday harder since I prefer to stay indoors.
This heat isn’t fun so don’t play around if none of this helps. Your health & well-being is more important!

 

[faceindawind]

If you were a dog delivering out of an LLV you would have more protection rites to your well being over the human being.

There is no official policy regarding extreme heat or cold and local management proceedure. The policy of the moment is to read your scanner.

I drive with the door open when boxes are 1000 feet or less away. It's closed bouncing across intersections. There are many forms of cooling towels on the market. I have a doo rag, head band and towel. The head band can double as a kerchief around your neck. I carry 2 12 pack coolers. 1 is filled with ice cubes and small water bottles. As the cubes melt you have a cold source to dip the cooling towel/device. If the ice hasn't melted enough add some water to it before you leave the office. In other cooler is an ice pack and more water bottles. I fill all my water bottles in the office out of their water cooler.

I have also switched to a pair of sandalso out on the route. A big no no but I'll chance it.

I wish they made a cargo net device for the back door which would create a nice breezeway through the easy bake oven. We would only need to close it when dismounting.

 

[North]

ThreeOneZero are you getting enough salt? I'm no medical professional, just guessing that some good electrolyte drink/adequate salt may help. I would definitely not go out again after having heat symptoms the same day....

 

[Gotrope]

I've also thought they could make life much better in an llv if they put in a sliding metal vent in the rear door. I'm not going to lie, 2 years ago it was 111F pouring buckets and I almost passed out between the heat and humidity. I said to myself this isn't worth it and delivered the last hour with the back door open. I'm not condoning this, I just figured it was that or die. I told my mgr when I came back and they said at least you didn't go home like a couple of others did. Priorities, right?I've driven 204b and shadow hires with the back door open on slow, suburb routes off main streets. It was that or call for a body bag in 115F+ heat for them. It's actually about ambient air temperature in the llv with the rear door open. 

 

[johnwayne]

just saw this.  been through it. it takes 3 weeks or so to get back to normal after overheating. You just feel crappy and tired all the time.  I dont know what else to say..but be careful and dont let them push you.

 

[csparks]

Sorry if I missed this, but I'm just curious where you are located ThreeOneZero?

I passed thru Needles CA 2 summers ago on the day they tied or broke their heat record, 125.

I'm from Oklahoma, which usually has some very hot summers, and thought I could take it, but this was just unreal. I happened to see both a USPS worker in an LLV and the UPS guy during the short time we were there about noon. Couldn't imagine how they were coping with it.

Strangely, we are in a rare, rainy, and not too hot August right now. A blessing.

I doubt I have any tips you don't know. Guess I'm lucky to be in a POV, so A/C. Sorry.
My heat regime is Under Armor shirts, of course, a wet "cool fabric" neck cover, frozen bottles of powerade. When outside, I'll keep my hair wet with an old towel, and always a vented mesh hat.
Those Gatorade chews seem to give me a bit of a pickup in the afternoons.

 

[ibd1]

I have a cooldatazz. It works very well. This has been the easiest summer for heat since I have been delivering mail. Go to cooldatazz.com. It cost me a little over 200 dollars but it is worth every penny. I keep a spray bottle and when my front side gets hot a spritz a little water and cool off my face and my backside is always cool.

 

[csparks]

Just looked at the Cool Dat Azz outfit. Pretty darned American genius. A former City Carrier, I see.

 

[D.B.Cooper]

They get kudos for just coming up with the name...