Posted on 10/10/2023 7:03:22 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
August 2016 was, at the time, the planet’s hottest month on record. In Freehold, New Jersey, where Jim Klenk was driving his usual route for UPS, midday temperatures were hitting highs in the 80s and 90s.
During one of those punishing late-summer days, Klenk, who was 58, started feeling sick. He was disoriented, his wife, Theresa Klenk, recalled. He hadn’t been able to urinate all day.
Like most of America’s more than 1.5 million parcel delivery drivers, Jim drove a vehicle that lacked air conditioning. On a typical shift, he would be in and out of his truck every few minutes, spending the bulk of his time in the back cargo area, where temperatures can exceed 120 degrees, according to the Teamsters union, which represents UPS drivers.
Theresa, a nurse, said Jim didn’t want an ambulance or a trip to the ER.
Eventually, though, she managed to get him to the hospital where she worked. He was already in kidney failure by the time they arrived.
“They pulled me out and asked me what Jim’s last wishes would be,” she said.
Heatstroke, one of the most common and most deadly heat-related illnesses, had put Jim in acute renal failure, Theresa said. But he got lucky, and he was able to go home after five days in the hospital.
For Theresa, Jim’s close call was a turning point. At the time, she said, no UPS drivers wanted to speak up about the increasingly brutal conditions for fear of being reprimanded. She felt uniquely positioned to begin advocating for change.
(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...
I’m semi-retired, but work 3-4 days a week outside at a local country club for $13/hr. - full health care - privileges - meals - and tips. Lots of tips.
Working outside in the summer in FL is tough. I drink probably 2 gallons of water per shift. When you get home and just peel your clothes off and throw them in the dryer then head to the shower, you know you’ve done your work for the day.
I like hard work. I feel it keeps me young (at 60). I wear jeans that I brought w/ me to FL that I wore at PSU in the 80’s. I can still hit it nearly 300 yards at times.
Hard work is good for you - but, YES Hydrate.
Whoops - washer, not dryer. Don’t want to dry dirty clothes. They’ll smell even worse.
“I drink probably 2 gallons of water per shift.”
Absolutely, sounds like a lot but it is not, it is absolutely necessary, along with salt intake and potassium. I eat a lot of bananas for the potassium. I found the potassium intake is a huge advantage.
OMG! 80s and 90s during August!! We all doomed!!!
Just what color are those UPS vans?
Major heat absorbers!
Is the roof white, at least?
“Is the roof white, at least?”
Nope...
UPS / Fedex, literally CAN'T put a/c in every vehicle. can you imagine the drivers refusing to work because the A/C is broke on their trucks?
it would be chaos and some drivers would take advantage of this to get a day off with pay.
OTOH UPS is responsible to teach their drivers about heat exhaustion and heat stoke. and should be aware when a driver is showing signs of heat exhaustion.
CNN never stops pimping elite privilege and weather taxes.
Agree it help me from passing out in long periods of working in the heat.
He never heard of staying hydrated in hot weather? How about carrying a pee jar in the truck? We were never without one for our family's 9-hour drive to the Carolinas in the 1950s. Air conditioning? Don't make me laugh.
“Air conditioning? Don’t make me laugh.”
No SEAT BELTS either, I’m guessing. ;)
In the early 60’s we used to drive from ‘The People’s Republic of Milwaukeestan’ to the ‘wilds’ of Central Wisconsin just about EVERY weekend of my young life to relax at ‘The Lake’ with my Dad’s parents who retired to Paradise. (Vs Milwaukeestan in the ‘60’s.)
We had a VW Bug and it wasn’t unusual to put the BABY in the far back ‘cubby’ so she could sleep on the 4 hour trip ‘Up Nort.’
Had we ever been rear-ended it would’ve been ‘Bye-Bye Baby!’ :(
You got that right. And the baby on the back shelf-- I remember that.
Those were the days!
When the humidity kicks in at around 60 or 70 per cent an 80 degree day can feel like 100 degrees.
They appear to work hard
This was, up to that time the largest military engagement on the North American Continent and the debut of the newly trained American Continental Army. It was also the battle that gave birth to "Molly Pitcher'', aka Mary Ludwig Hayes who manned a cannon after her husband was wounded. What was notable about the battle though was the intense heat of the day. By noon the temperature had reached a 100 degrees and the humidity was probably around 70 or 80 per cent. More men were incapacitated by heat stroke than actual battle wounds. General Hugh Mercer, Washington's aide de camp noted ''The heat of the day was like the fires of a thousand Hades''. The outcome of the battle itself however was a draw.
LOL!
And ‘Baby’ was sleeping right above the engine block, so she was toasty warm in the cooler months. ;)
(Rear engines in VWs back then.)
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