Coolness for unsung heroes
WHILE most of us stay cool inside airconditioned rooms or rest in the shade, outdoor workers spend endless hours under a scorching sun to ensure the city runs smoothly. For nucleic acid testing personnel, it’s real tough.
Employers, authorities and subdistricts have stepped up their efforts to bring a touch of coolness.
In the Shibei High Technology Park, there is a service station for outdoor workers like street cleaners, package and food delivery workers, truck and taxi drivers, traffic police officers, nucleic acid testing personnel and volunteers.
The service station provides free iced drinks, sun protection arm sleeves and Liushen-branded floral water, a must-have for Shanghainese in summer. It contains several kinds of traditional herbal ingredients that can provide coolness and sooth insect bites. A deliveryman, who wouldn’t disclose his name, rushed to the service station for a rest, and glugged down a bottle of iced salted soda water after he had delivered nine parcels in one hour.
“I’m dying of thirst and melting with heat,” he said. “This place is so great. I get free drinks and I felt refreshed,” he said.
Though the mercury hit 40 degrees Celsius, nurse Zheng Jun was still wrapped in a thick protective outfit as she performed nucleic acid tests in the Zhijiang Road W. Subdistrict neighborhood. Zheng admitted that she and her colleagues had suffered acute sunstroke. After work, the sweat was pouring off her, literally. “I pour out sweat in my gloves and shoe covers,” she said.
Thankfully, in recent days, the subdistrict prepared giant ice cubes and misting fans to cool the surroundings.
“I feel much better now,” she said, adding that she’s been very moved by local residents who often come to say thank you.”