Heat

[Got Grass?]

What do you guys do when it just gets to hot?
Today was the first day over 90 in 2 years and it reached 98 in some parts heat index of 105. extremely humid as well. Drank at least 4 gallons of water in 4hrs. didnt pee once sweated it all out. no air in truck. Cut 3 lawns last one was one push mow and almost colapsed. Decided to call it a early day.
Do you guys keep working, or put everything off day or so till its a bit cooler? Start earlier, take a few hrs. off round noon, and work later like all the mexicans?

This is only buffalo I cant imagine working down south except there is less humidity.

[1MajorTom]

Here in PA it has been sweltering. You have to chew the air before you breathe it ;)

Obviously you wouldn't like to work with my husband Matt. The more I complain about the heat, the more he makes us keep going. I swear he could be a drill sergeant. I was soaked today from sweat, and I rarely sweat. I hate days like this!

Matt won't let us get behind though if he can help it. So we worked in the heat all day. But I got the last laugh. Matt has heat rash on his legs today from all this heat:) Maybe that will teach him next time to slow down when it's this hot!

[awm]

HERE IN THE SOUTH MOST BOYS THAT WORK OUT SIDE LEARN TO PACE THEMSELVES. PLENTY OF FLUIDS.DURING THE HEAT IS NOT THE TIME TO PUSH UNTIL YOU HAVE TO QUIT. I DO SEE SOME YOUNG FELLOWS DOING THAT(my sons)
BUT YOURE NOT GOING TO BEAT THAT HEAT AND IT WILL SOONER OR LATER GET YOU. LATER

[gogetter]

Since your truck doesn't have air, look into one of those fans that plug into the lighter. Mount it to your dash or on the ceiling of the truck.
Also, as I mentioned in another post recently, freeze a large bottle of water the night before. Whenever you need to, put the bottle on your neck, forehead, wrists, whatever.
If you can take an hour or two off in the middle of the day to cool yourself down, I say do it. Don't kill yourself. You'l really get backed up if you pass out!!!

[EROSS17]

It has been in the 90's here for the past two days also. Who knows what it has been with the humidity, feels like 190. Sucks to be cutting in this heat. God bless air conditioning. But this is what we have chosen.

[MOW ED]

Hot here too. heat index in the 90's.

Cold Bud after a full day of weight loss.

Jodi tell Matt - DESITIN!
http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=13592&highlight=desitin

:D

[Richard Martin]

When the heat index gets over 90 you need to pace yourself and drink plenty of water (read water). If you work by yourself as I do you really need to be carefull. Dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke can really sneak up on you and if there's no one there to keep an eye on you you can get into trouble quick.

I drink plety of water and take a 5 minute a/c break in the truck with the windows down between jobs.

[Volhunter]

Got Grass? ....LOL More than enough humidity down here! You must have never been to the South. SW is where it is dry. Just try to pace yourself. Its hard to work in the heat even when you are used to it, but when you are not, I'm sure it can be a killer. Be careful, because it can put you down...permanently.

[Eric ELM]

It has been in the mid to upper 90's here for the past week too. The heat index today was over 100, so it is hot all over. They were just talking on the news about in 1995 we had a temp of 106 and a heat index of 126 and I remember that day very well since we were out in it working. :(

When you see the temperatures for Chicago, it is usually 10 degrees warmer in the summer out on the edge of Chicago where we are and 10 degrees colder in the winter. The Pond by Chicago really makes a difference in Temps.

[Fantasy Lawns]

it does tend to get a little warm this time of year .... when it's in the high 80's by 9am you know you in for it ....got the large brim hat ....lots of water ....nice towel to rinse n keep on the neck .....oh ya lots of water .....start early as possible ... n smile at the dust on the push mower ;->

[Southern Lawns]

Here in the Carolinas all we get is swealtering heat. Like a pevious post said: Pace yourself. That is the best advice. Plenty of water and a towel to soak with cool water and wipe the face and neck, makes a big difference. Oh! and if you choose not.......Mother nature will slow you down. Heat stroke is no fun.

[slabpile]

bring swimming shorts and a towel. I live and work by the ocean and many lakes. it is not uncommon for us to take a noon dip and orr go skiing at the end of the day. boy is it nice!!:D

[Lawn-Scapes]

Got Grass...

Look at the bright side... It doesn't last long up north. Down in Florida and other southern states it's like this for almost 6 months.

Just take your time and drink alot of water!

[Got Grass?]

Some good ideas guys. Thanks!
I know I souldnt have done that push mowing but it was the last house on a street with 4 others I cut and wanted to leave the area.
I didnt get any heat rash, the start of heat stroke tho (lightheaded, extreme sweating, feel like throwing up, total exaustion). I'll take some of my babys Desitin if I do.
I'll try and take a couple hr. lunch on days like this and get cought up on the paper work/book keeping that always seems to get behind tring to make a couple $'s.
Good Idea about the frozen water bottles (if thay stay frozen) I'll put them in the cooler with the water. The Wet towel around the neck I'll do as well (can usually find a hose).
Been to the south (NC, FL, TX, GA, Mexico) didnt feel/wasn't to hot at the time, but I did manage to catch some sun poisining (2in bliser on my right ear and a bad sunburn). Us people up here are cumfy in freezing weather.
The way I see it is you can always put more clothes on but can only take so much off unless you really want to get your buisness (pun) noticed.

[lee b]

The heat is tough and you never really get used to it. I always do the hardest work early in the morning or late in the evening, try to spend the hottest part of the day riding the mower. :angry:

[JLC]

It finally got warm here. One week I had the furnace on at home. This week we have the air on. Funny weather this year. Got up to 96 the other day and has been hanging around 90 when the sun comes out. When it gets warm I always am sure to take the cooler, but only put a few ice cubes in it. Save the refreshing ice cold water for sitting on the deck at the end of the day, it takes extra energy for your body to heat it up and do you good. This is the last thing you want when it's really hot and you are working hard. Also I never run the air in the truck when I'm working. I don't like to put myself through the extremes of temperature. Once I'm in the heat I'm ok. This seems to work quite well for me. I can work at pretty much full speed until it gets 100+ with high humidity, but I don't know anyone who can go full bore in those conditions. If you feel like you are going to puke or pass out, slow down. Words to live by.

[George777]

Here in Bama it is starting to get HOT. Yesterday my partner and I were soaked by 8:30 in the morning. I think the temp was in the 90's so was the humidity. it sure felt good to take a shower last night.

That sun will bring ya to your knees if your not careful. I had a headache last night. No substatute for water. I was drinking sodas and that is the worst thing you can do. I paid for it. You can bet tomorrow that the water jug will get 2 bags of ice and filled up.

[Charles]

Stays hot and humid here all summer long. Can stay around 80 most nites. If you didnt work when it was hot here you wouldnt work at all. See why we advise against pushing a push mower? Like the above I just pace myself and drink plenty of water. Takes alot of will power.

[Mike (MLC)]

Around here in Southeast Texas you have the high temps and the high humidity. The heat index is usually close to or over 100 degrees, with no wind. You learn to deal with it, and try not to have a heat stroke. From May to Sept. the heat is unbareable!! Most of the time you are sweating through your clothes before you even reach the truck. Make sure you pace your self and takes brakes if needed to. Drink plenty of liquids.

[thelawnguy]

The big lawns get done first thing in the am, by the time the air gets real chewy all Im doing are little 15 min jobs so I get a breather b4 the next one.

[cutntrim]

My dad is in Ohio at his parent's farm so it's just me and my partner for this week and next. He picked a good time to leave. We've got the same heat and humidity as you do in Buffalo. Today we worked 7:30-7:30. Worked 'til 6:00 or 6:30 every other day this week. Probably be done around 6:00 tomorrow.

Been doing it for 11 years now and it does wear on the body. I drink lots of water, and gatorade, and keep eating especially fruit. I never eat hot food during the day. Only cold sandwiches and salads. I put on weight in the off season specifically so I can afford to lose it in the summer. Hard to keep it on in this heat.

Eric: I too remember the summer of 95. I bet it was that same day that you were talking about that one of our employees suffered heat exhaustion. He was a chubby guy and was pushing a mower all day and by mid-afternoon was toast. I was watching him cut a lawn as I was trimming and he just sat down all of a sudden and couldn't get up.

We moved him to the shade and gave him all of our water jugs. He sat there and drank ALL of the water we gave him. We dropped him off at home and he took the next two days off. We kept cutting 'til around 8:00. Environment Canada had started off the day by strongly warning EVERYONE to stay indoors. Worst heat day of my life...so far.

[PrimeGreen Lawn]

Same story here in MD. I'm still young (27), and am very used to the heat. Once I'm in the heat for a while, I just get acklamated to it, and keep on going. Don't get me wrong, I pace myself and I guarantee I will fill my 5 gallon water jug at least twice in a 8-10 hour day.

Scott

[65hoss]

Heat?? Whats all this complaining? It's not HOT yet. I keep telling MikeLT1Z28 to enjoy this. I would die up north in the winter, but you guys wouldn't make it in the summer down south.

Seriously, last year was worst ever here. If we could make it last year this year should be easy. Part of it is in the mind. Remember the mind is a powerful thing. The point is, don't dwell on the heat or it will make it worse on you when your out in it. Drink lots and pace yourselves, but don't let your mind get the best of you.

[awm]

one good thing about the heat here in the south.
a few weeks of this and all those easy money guys who got
in lawncare this spring, start looking for somebody to sell there equipment to. sometimes some pretty good deals out there.
i always kinda feel sorry forem though.the easy money dream bubble has popped and they lost their ,well you know what i mean.

[Island Lawn]

It's just now getting HOT, but it will be this way for quite a while.

I thought the competition might start dropping off a bit by now.

NOPE!
I saw a couple of new guys today!


You gotta take it easy in the heat!
Drink H2O!
Good Luck!

[CSRA Landscaping]

Hehe .... less humidity? I doubt it. We're usually around 100%, esp. here on the river ... chewy air ... yum ...