{"id":14064,"date":"2026-06-30T07:38:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-30T11:38:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jordanbarab.com\/confinedspace\/?p=14064"},"modified":"2026-06-29T22:46:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T02:46:51","slug":"season-of-sunshine-and-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jordanbarab.com\/confinedspace\/2026\/06\/30\/season-of-sunshine-and-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Season of Sunshine\u2014and Risk\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

T<\/span>here were two things to celebrate on June 21: Father\u2019s Day and the first day of summer. I thought a lot about my dad that day. I’ve written about him here<\/span><\/a> and feel grateful for having him in my life for so long. He’s still there; I blow a kiss at his picture every day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But with summer months ahead, I\u2019m also thinking about heat<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Nat King Cole had it right<\/span><\/a> \u2013 lazy, hazy, crazy<\/span>.<\/span> \u00a0For many of us, summer means vacations, backyard cookouts, trips to the beach, and long evenings outdoors. But for millions of people, summer also means risk.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m talking about heat.\u00a0 And I\u2019m thinking about those who will be working outside through sweltering days; about those living and working without fans or air conditioning; about those who are homeless and living on the streets.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Heat is often called the “silent killer” among weather-related hazards. Unlike hurricanes, floods, or blizzards, extreme heat doesn’t leave dramatic images behind. There are no toppled buildings or flooded streets to capture our attention. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet, <\/span>extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the United States<\/span><\/a>. The latest <\/span>CDC statistics show that 150 heat-related deaths<\/span><\/a> occurred in the United States in 2025, but the data is only partially tabulated due to delays in reporting. During the previous two years, more than 4,800 heat-related U.S. deaths were recorded, according to the CDC. <\/span>Since 2020, there have been at least 9,436 heat-related deaths across the nation<\/span><\/a>. You can read more about U.S. heat-related mortality <\/span>here.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One reason heat can be so dangerous is that the number on the thermometer doesn’t tell the whole story. Weather reports often include a <\/span>“heat index”\u2014<\/span><\/a>sometimes called the “feels like” temperature\u2014which combines air temperature and humidity. High humidity makes it harder for sweat to evaporate from our skin, and sweating is one of the body’s primary ways of cooling itself. When humidity is high, our bodies have to work much harder to stay cool.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That’s why an 88-degree day with high humidity can feel more oppressive\u2014and be more dangerous\u2014than a 95-degree day with dry air. As the heat index rises, so does the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Paying attention to the heat index, not just the temperature, can help people make safer decisions about working, exercising, or spending time outdoors.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Workers at Risk<\/span><\/b> \"\"<\/span><\/h2>\n

Some of the most vulnerable workers include construction workers, farmworkers, landscapers, utility workers, mail carriers, delivery drivers, road crews, sanitation workers, and others who spend long hours outdoors, often with little shade and few opportunities to cool down. Heat exhaustion can come on quickly. Heat stroke can kill and can become a medical emergency in minutes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For outdoor workers, the heat index can be especially important. Employers and workers alike should pay attention to “feels like” temperatures when planning work schedules, breaks, hydration, and access to shade, because the body responds to the actual heat stress it experiences\u2014not simply the temperature reported on a weather app.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many workers also face another challenge: pressure to keep going. Deadlines don’t disappear because temperatures climb. Packages still need delivering. Crops still need harvesting. Roads still need repairing. The people who keep our communities running often do so under conditions most of us would avoid if given the choice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Workers can check out the <\/span>OSHA\/NIOSH Heat Tool App<\/span><\/a> which will tell them what the heat index is for where you are working, the threat level and what workers can do to stay safe.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Others at Risk<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Heat doesn’t affect everyone equally. Older adults, young children, people with chronic illnesses, and those taking certain medications are at greater risk. So are people who cannot afford air conditioning or who worry about the electric bill that comes with running it. Families living in poorly insulated housing may find little relief even after the sun goes down.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And then there are those who have no home at all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When temperatures soar, a park bench, a tent, or a city sidewalk can become dangerous places to be. Homelessness is already a daily struggle. Extreme heat turns that struggle into a life-threatening condition.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s Ahead?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Climate scientists tell us that <\/span>heat waves are becoming more frequent<\/span><\/a>, lasting longer, and affecting larger parts of the country. Whether we think about heat as a public health issue, a worker safety issue, an environmental issue, or all three, one thing is clear: this is not a problem that is going away.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is that there are things we can do. Employers can reschedule work, provide water, rest breaks, shade, and training to recognize the signs of heat illness. Communities can open <\/span>cooling centers<\/span><\/a> and ensure residents know where to find them. Neighbors can check on older adults and others who may be vulnerable. Cities can invest in trees, green spaces, and infrastructure that reduce urban heat. Policymakers can <\/span>strengthen protections<\/span><\/a> for workers and expand resources for those most at risk. New York City just did that, as have several states.\u00a0 OSHA is allegedly working on a standard, but most observers don\u2019t expect much action from the Trump Administration.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(The Administration may be thinking twice about their inaction as temperatures in Washington D.C. will climb to the low 100s this week as the nation approaches its 250<\/span>th<\/span> birthday.)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Most important, we can remember that behind every heat-related illness or death is a human being.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A father working a construction site.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A grandmother living alone in an apartment without air conditioning.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A delivery driver trying to finish a route.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A person sleeping on the street with nowhere cool to go.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bottom Line<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Summer has only just begun. There will be many hot days ahead. As we enjoy the season’s pleasures, perhaps we can also spare a thought\u2014and take some action\u2014for those for whom heat is not an inconvenience but a danger.\u00a0 We can offer bottled water to our mail carrier or construction worker on our street.\u00a0 We can check on our neighbors.\u00a0 We can support and volunteer at homeless shelters and community cooling centers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On Father’s Day, I remembered my dad and the values he lived by: hard work, compassion, and looking out for others.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those seem like pretty good values to carry with us into the summer heat ahead.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There were two things to celebrate on June 21: Father\u2019s Day and the first day of summer. I thought a lot about my dad that day. I’ve written about him here and feel grateful for having him in my life for so long. He’s still there; I blow a kiss at his picture every day.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":14068,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[252],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heat"],"yoast_head":"\nSeason of Sunshine\u2014and Risk\u00a0 - Confined Space<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It's summer. It's hot out there and getting hotter. 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