Those who work in the heat have a routine to stay cool and safe, no matter how hot it gets.
A popular postal service saying is neither snow, nor rain nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. Well, that heat part of it certainly played a role Thursday.
Mail carrier Tim Lopez says weather plays a huge roll in his job.
"I constantly check the weather in the morning and the evenings before I go to bed and when I get up in the morning," Lopez said.
It's a long day for mail carriers.
"We're looking anywhere from 850 to 870 stops. You're looking at probably 40,000 pieces of mail."
When temperatures are in the 100's like Thursday.
"I prefer the shorts and the short sleeves for the coolness of it. They're loose garments. They allow the airflow to get through. I disregard raincoats or anything. It's just like an extra conductor of heat. I know to pack plenty of water, plenty of ice plus you know my Gatorade too."
Lopez says taking too many breaks can get you in trouble.
"I keep a pretty steady pace throughout the day. If I sit down and take a break too long, I have a tendency you know muscles cramp up. You kind of get used to the elements when the seasons change."
But Lopez isn't just protecting himself. "What I enjoy the most is the interactions I have with all my customers. Them checking on your well being. You checking on their well being."
Of all the different elements these guys have to battle here outside, they actually say Winter is the worst to deal with.
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This 100 degree heat is tough on many, but imagine working outside in it everyday.
