The Jamestown Sun
Leah Beyer, one of the head lifeguards at Jamestown Municipal Pool, normally corrects children who splash too much in the water. But on days like Monday when temperatures hit 100 degrees, she said lifeguards welcome the splashing.
"We don't mind," Beyer said.
Temperatures are ex-pected to be in the mid-90s through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. The heat index was predicted to be as high as 106 Monday.
Pool manager Marney Shirley said lifeguards would get an extra swimming break. Normally, swimmers take a break at 2:30 p.m., but on days like Monday, the swimmers and lifeguards take breaks at 2 and 3 p.m.
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"You get dehydrated around the water," Shirley said, "You sweat around the water too. People don't notice it."
She said pool attendance has increased, with more than 50 people swimming on Sunday. Usually less than half that many swimmers come to the pool on Sundays, Shirley said.
"(The heat) definitely brings people to the pool," she said.
Errand-runners aren't exempt from the heat, either.
Unison bank employees handed out 48 water bottles Monday to customers waiting in line for drive-through bank services. The intent of the service is to say "thank you for waiting," said President Harvey Huber. Unison will continue handing out water bottles through Wednesday and as the heat persists.
They weren't the only Unison employees working outside.
Custodian Doug Gumke said he cleaned windows on the north side of the building Monday from about 3 to 4 p.m., stopping only for a five-minute break when he got light-headed. Even though he was working in the shade, Gumke said the work was uncomfortable.
"My shirt was just wet within one hour," he said.
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Other outdoor workers, like Meegan One Feather, a flagger for Northern Improvement, help direct traffic along Highway 281. One Feather brings coolers with her to work to keep bottled water, ice and cloths so she can stay hydrated on days like Monday, when she began work at 6 a.m.
Flagger Jeni Falor also brought a cooler and decided to try a test. She put a piece of ice on her arm to see how long it would last.
It melted and evaporated in less than five minutes, she said. But even with the heat, Falor kept a pleasant attitude.
"It hasn't been that crazy hot yet -- I can still work in it as long as I can keep my water bottle," she said Monday morning.
Project superintendent Ted Schneider agreed. He said Monday was just like any other day, although it was hotter than normal.
However, the whole operation slows because employees aren't pushed to work at their normal pace, Schneider said.
"It's hot out but you just deal with it," he said. "You just drink a lot of water and plug away."
