HOT TOWN
Summer in the city: How workers survive doing outside jobs.
With the mercury hitting 99 July 29, Mid-South residents were fully immersed in an annual rite of mid-summer: seeking an airconditioned space, a fan or an icy beverage to escape the heat.
And, if you think it’s been hotter than normal this month, you are right. We are on pace to have one of the hottest Julys on record, says Marlene Mickelson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Memphis. This year might evoke sweaty memories of 2012, when we had a similar streak of days when the heat index rose above 100. Since July 7, the heat index has pierced 100 each day with one exception, July 9. And it was a heat index figure of 98 that day. The heat index topped out at 112 July 29.
And, for folks who work outside, there’s no escaping the oppressive weather. Outside workers got a slight break from the heat July 30-31 when the temps only hit the low 90s.
We sent three of The CA’s reporters into the sauna to write about how some folks are coping with the weather. Their stories follow:
FOOTBALL TEAM’S TOUGHEST FOE
For the St. George’s Independent School football team, the gallon jug has become as important as the football.
Similar to a running back learning to “protect the football” by carrying it everywhere he goes, the Gryphons are required to keep their personal water jugs close at hand during these days of extreme heat. Coach David Carter and his staff make sure players drink two gallons of water a day so they stay hydrated.
By certain times of the day, players are required to reach certain marks on the jug.
“With the exception of coming out here to practice, every meeting, every meal, they have their water jug with them and we keep up with how much they drink,” Carter said at the July 29 practice. “Because they have to finish that gallon and start the other gallon during the day.”
On July 27 — when the heat index was recorded at 103 degrees by 11 a.m. — an East High School player was taken to the hospital for heat exhaustion. According to Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association rules implemented in 2009, no outdoor activities are permitted if the heat index is above 104 degrees.
St. George’s holds an early practice around 7 a.m. and the day’s second practice is at 6 p.m. That later session can be moved to 7 p.m. if the heat index is too high. Carter adjusted his practice schedule so the Gryphons could hold their twoa-days and stay within TSSAA rules.
“It’s not as hot,” senior offensive guard and nose tackle Jacob Still said of the adjusted practice schedule, but, “we still get the reps in and we don’t have to cancel practice early.”
Along with staying hydrated, players are also being served breakfast and lunch. It’s all part of the coaching staff ’s strategy for dealing with the oppressive opponent that is the Memphis heat.
“You aren’t going to make them better players or tougher players by them being completely dehydrated and exhausted,” Carter said. “We’re trying to get the best performance out of our kids, and for us