Beat the heat
Latest spate of extremely hot weather causing challenges for those working outside and in hot kitchens across P.E.I.
These days, the most important tool in Mike Hebert’s toolkit is a bottle of Gatorade G2.
“It’s hot, man,’’ Herbert said as he wiped the sweat off his brow before downing a bottle of water. “I like the Gatorade 2 because of all the electrolytes it has in it. It helps keep me hydrated.’’
The construction worker is out in the hot sun all day long and into the evening as Mira Construction out of Fredericton, N.B., works on a subdivision near L.M. Montgomery Elementary School in Charlottetown.
“I just don’t run and whenever I need it I like to find shade.’’
Hebert said the company has a truck on site with air conditioning and a cooler with lots of water and Gatorade in it. Workers have been putting in halfhour shifts before taking a break this past week.
It’s been a battle for anyone working outside as temperatures soared above 30 C for much of this past week. Environment Canada had a heat warning in effect for P.E.I. on Tuesday and Wednesday before lifting it midday on Thursday.
Paul Morgan, a flagger with Island Construction, said he’s been pushing himself to drink more water.
“I’m my own worst enemy because I’m not a big water drinker,’’ Morgan said.
He said Island Construction treats its workers well. Supervisors have been keeping a close eye on everyone, giving them the option of doing a half hour on and a half hour off or 15 minutes on and 15 minutes off.
“Most construction companies will supply you with water. This company really takes care of its employees. If one of us feels too hot they’ll get someone (to spot) you. Working for this company is the best move I’ve made in the years I’ve been flagging,’’ Morgan said.
Heidi MacIntyre, another flagger working in Charlottetown, said people simply have to be smart under the intense sun.
“It’s not that bad,’’ MacIntyre said as she waves traffic through. “As long as there’s a breeze, then you’re OK, but when there’s not then it gets hot.’’
MacIntyre noted that they’ve been working in half-hour shifts to deal with the heat and she applies sun screen the second she sits back down in the air conditioned truck.
Besides the water she has with her, many good Samaritans driving through the construction zone have extended bottles of water out their window for her. “People are nice and friendly.’’ Mike Pollard, who owns Pollard’s Roofing Inc., has three pieces of advice for his roofing crews: drink plenty of water, use sun screen and keep your shirt on.
“We’re probably going through six cases of water (24 in a case) a day and they’re drinking them like nothing,’’ Pollard said.
“The key is to stay hydrated and you’ve got to know your body (limits).’’
Pollard said they’re in the middle of a construction boom right now and there’s just too much work to do to stop. But he’s making sure his crews aren’t overdoing it. While a typical residential house takes one full day to complete, he’s been tasking his workers with starting as early in the morning as possible, without annoying the neighbours, and having them stop no later than 12:30 p.m.
“I had a home owner phone me at 5:30 p.m. one day asking where the guys are because the roof wasn’t done. I had to explain to her that it’s just too hot. We had to get them off (the roof).’’
In the country, his crews have been working from 5 a.m to 1 p.m.
“If your workers aren’t happy you might as well not even be there. If you feel not right, then generally you’re not right.’’
As hot as it has been outside, it can be even worse inside.
Brent Hillier, the chef at Phinley’s Diner in Stratford, said it can get brutal in the kitchen.
“It’s just stifling hot to the point where when you get home you’re dying for a shower,’’ Hillier said, noting that he works 8- to 10hour shifts. “But I love to cook and I thrive at this frantic pace. We always drink lots of water and management is very, very good to us.’’
Rose Gaudet, the general manager at Phinley’s says owners Jen and Craig Lawlor, always make sure employees are treated to pitchers of water, jumbo freezies and milkshakes on those extra-hot days.
Next door at the Phinley’s Dairy Bar, Nicole Day is busy filling ice cream orders for cold milkshakes and ice cream.
“On a hot day like this, we’re having ice cream for lunch,’’ laughed customer Jennifer Hicks of Stratford, who ordered a chocolate hot fudge sundae while her daughter, Sarah, picked a birthday cake sundae.
It’s been so hot that the Richmond Dairy Bar in western P.E.I. has had to close early twice this past week.
Cierra Bridges, who works at the dairy bar, said the air conditioner hasn’t been working. Even when it was, it wasn’t making much of a difference. They’ve been so busy that the windows to serve customers are constantly open, allowing the hot air in.
“Earlier this week we had the busiest day in all the years that the dairy bar has been open. No one wants to cook at home in this heat so it’s been so hot that we’ve had to close (twice) at 6 p.m.,’’ Bridges said, noting that they’re usually open until 9 p.m.
Jamie Lewis, store manager at Home Hardware in Charlottetown, said they’ve been doing a good job keeping up with the demand for air conditioners and fans.
“There’s one fan we’ve sold a couple of hundred of, for sure, just your basic tabletop, 16-inch fans.
. . You just set it on the table and away you go,’’ Lewis said.
Some of the store’s air-conditioning window units have sold out, although there is still stock in some of the other models.
Lewis said the demand will likely intensify over the next week or so.
“We always see an increase in stuff like that around the first week of August,’’ he said.
Lewis said he’s also rotating the staff in and out of the outdoor garden shed due to the heat outside.