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WILTON, Conn. Department of Public Works employee Frank Delvecchio knows the drill about staying hydrated and finding shade on sweltering summer days -- unfortunately for him, work doesn't take place where it's cool.
"You just do it," said Delvecchio. "Nobody likes to work in the summertime, but the show must go on."
On Tuesday afternoon, as temperatures hit the high 90s with humidity making it feel even hotter Delvecchio worked with a road crew in Wilton Center spreading asphalt on Old Ridgefield Road.
"It's nasty," said flagger William Waters, who works for Connecticut Traffic Control. "You have to drink a lot of water and get shade when you can."
As the guy standing in the middle of the roadway holding the stop sign, Waters doesn't get much chance to stand in the shade. He does have one trick to keep cool: he'll soak a towel in water then stick it under his hardhat.
"That works," said Waters.
Wilton Director of Health Steven Schole recommends drinking plenty of fluids to keep hydrated and staying out of the sun as much as possible on days like today. He also suggests workers who cannot avoid the outside pace themselves.
"If you feel too hot to do the work, slow down or stop," said Schole. "If you really start to feel unwell you should seek medical attention."
Delvecchio would be glad just to find a big, leafy tree.
"The hardest part is the sweating," he said. "And there's no shade. It would be nice if we had shade."
The National Weather Forecast predicts cooler temperatures -- in the mid-80s -- for the rest of the week.
How do you stay cool on super hot days like today? Leave a comment below.
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