Working in the Heat

Hot temperatures and high humidity make it difficult for those who work outside.

While adult and children cooled off in the pool at the Muskingum Family Y, the lifeguards were busy working to keep the pool safe. Lifeguard Kylee Hamilton says all the lifeguards take precautions to make sure nobody gets sick in the heat.

"As a lifeguard we always have our umbrellas up when we’re sitting in the chairs." said Hamilton "Sometimes we wear t-shirts over our suits, we are always wearing sunscreen, and we have to make sure we stay hydrated."

She says the lifeguards go through several bottles of water a day to help them stay cool. They also take breaks if anyone starts to feel overheated.

"We usually have four to five guards on duty at one time, and usually with a busy day we will sit three to four guards at one time, so there is always one guard waiting to take over for another guard if anything happens." said Hamilton.

She says that while their job is to keep the pool safe, it’s also important that they stay safe.