Is it just me or does anybody else have problems with going out of the office at the hottest part of the day? The temperatures lately have been regularly above 24 degrees with very strong sun. Its not even proper summer yet. I have never liked going out in the sun ever since I got sunstroke really badly as a child! I used to be able to cope(just) with summer temperatures when we started and finished earlier but now going out at the hottest part of the day for hours is doing me in. After this latest spell of hot weather I am really feeling that I want to give this job up. Every day I am coming home with a splitting headache, and feeling sick, despite drinking loads of water and wearing a hat. I have to take painkillers and lie down for an hour or two just to recover and sometimes my pain lasts the rest of the day. If the rest of the summer is anything like the weather recently I don't think I could last.
The first thing the authorities say about health advice in hot weather is to avoid the hottest part of the day. RM have now made it so that we are only out at the hottest part of the day. Do these D**KHeads have the slightest clue what this could mean for health implications? Do the Union have any view or interest in doing something about this. At the very least we should be going out much earlier in the summer!
Drink plenty of water before you go out, and then have something to eat while you are out, I'm out for 5 hours delivering and I just adjust my food and liquid intake to cope with the weather.
Eat a breakfast
Drink a pint of water before you go out
Drink small amounts throughout the day
Eat some food
Drink more
Finish the day feeling much better.
And avoid tea and coffee (and any caffine based drink) during the day
ps. Packet of mints can help too.
I'm preparing myself for the zombie invasion, rule number 1 - Cardio
Thanks for the advice DGP1 but I already do all that, it makes no difference. The headaches are not caused by dehydration, I believe its just the power of the sun on my head. I am folically challenged so wearing a hat is a must but that means the heat builds and boils my brain.
I'm like that too, but found a good pair of sunglasses also helps. Well when I say I'm like that, I didn't mean folically challenged. I would look weird with a bald patch
Yes Mazza, I do need a good pair of sunglasses, I stopped using my existing ones because they actually gave me headaches from being too tight.
Do you think my DIM will reimburse me for a nice pair of Ray Bans?
Be very aware of the risks of skin cancer,a lot of veterans from Palestine and Aden are starting to come down with it and thats from 40 or 50 years ago,it really is a serious problem and I think 40 years from now an above average amount of us delivery workers will be coming down with it,as well as the lads and lasses coming back from Bliars Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
DGP1 wrote:I wear a hat too but don't suffer, and being from up north I'm really not equipped for the hot weather (my SPF is balaclava and boilersuit).
I`m not from up North but I am not bothered by the cold weather at all, infact I positively thrive in very cold weather, I think I have a very high metabolic rate, which keeps me warm but means I have never liked hot weather.
DB1100 wrote:Be very aware of the risks of skin cancer,a lot of veterans from Palestine and Aden are starting to come down with it and thats from 40 or 50 years ago,it really is a serious problem and I think 40 years from now an above average amount of us delivery workers will be coming down with it,as well as the lads and lasses coming back from Bliars Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
I use an spf30, but i think RM should be paying for it as it really is now H&S equipment.
DGP1 wrote:I wear a hat too but don't suffer, and being from up north I'm really not equipped for the hot weather (my SPF is balaclava and boilersuit).
I`m not from up North but I am not bothered by the cold weather at all, infact I positively thrive in very cold weather, I think I have a very high metabolic rate, which keeps me warm but means I have never liked hot weather.
DB1100 wrote:Be very aware of the risks of skin cancer,a lot of veterans from Palestine and Aden are starting to come down with it and thats from 40 or 50 years ago,it really is a serious problem and I think 40 years from now an above average amount of us delivery workers will be coming down with it,as well as the lads and lasses coming back from Bliars Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
I use an spf30, but i think RM should be paying for it as it really is now H&S equiptment.
Yes I do to and also agree that they should pay for it,but if the boots and trainers are anything to go by maybe not!!
sunglasses are a must in the hot sunny weather, you get a lot of glare from the letters etc and you are looking directly at them almost all the time.
I find a wraparound pair the best for me, dont have to worry about them slipping off when bending down to the stipid ground level letterboxes a lot of my customers have.
also take a few 5 minute breaks between pouches for example and let your body cool down a bit, I sweat like a shower fitting on full blast due to the massive amount of steps to doors at the start of my walk an find that I have to drink at least 2 litres of water on a warm day but 3+ litres when the weather gets like it is over the last couple of weeks.
I hope you can sort out your problem bud, it could be a lot worse, you could be stuck in a factory or a traffic jam rather than being outside :)
I am already a skin cancer sufferer, and have questioned whether it is reasonable to expect us to deliver during the hottest hours of the day. Guess what, told to wear a floppy hat, and to not expose body parts to the sun and to walk in the shade as much as possible. Floppy Hat would automatically be a conduct code as I deliver by cycle. I cant see if my face is covered up, and believe it or not at least 50% of my walk is exposed to the sun, as the shade is on the other side of the road. The only tip I can offer you is to take a small towel out with you and keep it dampened with cold water, and hang it round your neck. You see many of the tour golfers doing this when playing in extreme heats, and it does help a lot.
put cold drinks into your 2nd bags ( frozen is perfect if you have a freezer available in your do) then your drinks are cold when you get to them
I also identified customer houses with outside taps - gave them a knock and asked if they minded me using it on a hot day to wet my hat - not one refused
by wetting your hat around your round it helps to keep your head cool
you can also buy a 'cooling spray' costs money but is great if you suffer
failing that any kids playing in a pool - well I invite them to soak me ( make sure all mail is in pouch first lol) the kids love it and I cool down
Flashman_ wrote:Yes Mazza, I do need a good pair of sunglasses, I stopped using my existing ones because they actually gave me headaches from being too tight.
Do you think my DIM will reimburse me for a nice pair of Ray Bans?
I'm like you i dislike the heat and love the cold cause i'm naturally warm, i went thru loads of sun glasses including ray bans till
i bought Oakley's the ones that wrap round with polarised lenses, Flak Jacket XLJ, had them 3yrs now best buy ever and so light.
you'll pay about £120 try http://www.sunglasses-on-line.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and also search about but avoid Ebay full of fakes
if you take care of them they'll last for years
so wearing a hat is a must but that means the heat builds and boils my brain.
