Outdoor workers take precautions amid excessive heat
BUFFALO, N.Y (WIVB) — With the high temperatures occurring throughout Western New York, local contractors are taking precautions to make sure their workers are safe from heat-related illness.
'It's just important to stay hydrated, stay cool, take care of your people,' said Pat Williams, owner of Decked Out WNY.
His crew wrapped up working on a deck they are building early on Monday due to the heat and told us they would be working inside on Tuesday.
'It's affecting everybody. It's a little early in the season; gradually, we'll get a little more used to it as we go through. But yeah, it's affecting everybody,' said John Petrozzi, owner of Fiddler Roofing WNY.
Fiddler Roofing WNY has been around since 1977, and the company spent Tuesday morning working on a roof in Wheatfield.
'We try to work around the project; the north side of the house is sometimes cooler. We're blessed with a shady tree today,' said Petrozzi. 'Always be cautious, always look out for each other, make sure everybody looks OK because it can happen really quick with heat exhaustion.'
The New York State Department of Transportation said that there are many projects that are going on throughout the region — and while they don't stop projects due to extreme weather, they're finding ways to work around it.
'We're telling our employees that you have to be cognizant of that; you have to take care of yourself first, and a lot of times it's just the simple things like making sure that you have that bottle of water on you, making sure you're remembering to drink throughout the day, making sure you go find that shade,' said Ryan Whalen, public information officer of the NYS DOT Region 5.
Dr. Gale Burstein, the Erie County Commissioner of Health, recommends that anyone who works should know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke and know how to respond to both.
'It's important that everybody has their own individual plan because everybody has different circumstances,' said Dr. Burstein. 'Enjoy the hot weather, but just be smart and be safe.'
If you're working outside in the heat, here are some recommendations from Dr. Burstein:
Carry water; she recommends drinking eight ounces of water every 15-20 minutes while working outside
Avoid caffeinated drinks
Take breaks
Monitor yourself and your co-workers for symptoms
Anyone taking medications, including antidepressants, diuretics, and medication for high blood pressure, should be careful because these medications can impact how your body regulates its own temperature
For more information about advice on how to handle heat, visit the Erie County Department of Health's website here or read their 'Let's Get Ready for Summer Heat' guide here.
Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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What's happening at the Delaware beaches: Running of the Bull and a lifeguard rescue
After what felt like a slow start to the tourist season at the Delaware beaches, summer is now indisputably in full swing – with a heat wave, to boot. Bumper-to-bumper traffic has returned to Coastal Highway. The water parks, mini-golf courses and ice cream stands are open. Some state parks already have had to temporarily turn away visitors after reaching capacity. Believe it or not, next week is the Fourth of July! Ah, summer. There's a lot going on at the Delaware beaches at this time of year, but Delaware Online/The News Journal's weekly guide has everything you need to know. Read on to find out about weather, traffic, events and even a lifeguard rescue. Though heat warnings officially end June 25, the temperature will remain near 90 degrees until the afternoon of June 26, when the National Weather Service predicts it will fall to about 80 degrees. June 26 and 27 both have a 40% chance of rain, but hold on, another gray weekend is not predicted. June 28, 29 and 30 are expected to be partly or mostly sunny with temperatures in the 80s. As always, check the latest weather report before heading out. Resign yourself to the fact that traffic is heavy, put on some reggae and don't worry, be happy. Avoid road rage. Don't block the box. Want to drive on Delaware beaches? Here's what you need to know Allow for extra time to get to wherever you have to go, especially if you have to travel through Dewey Beach on June 28. Traffic on Coastal Highway will be crawling through Dewey most of the day, with a sea of red and white overflowing from The Starboard for the Running of the Bull. Around 2 p.m. they'll actually run across the highway, stopping traffic briefly. If you're headed to beaches south of Dewey Beach, your best bet for June 28 is to take Route 113. The will happen at The Starboard in Dewey Beach at 2 p.m. June 28. This is not an actual bull, but two poor guys in a bull costume trying not to have heat stroke. The Starboard crowd will chase (or more accurately, drunkenly stumble after) them from the Starboard down to the beach and back. Back at The Starboard, the "bull" and the matador face off and fight to the death. (Read: A G-rated WWF match.) The matador is typically some local celebrity, and get this: This year, it's The News Journal/Delaware Online's own Ryan Cormier, who's been covering the event for 20 years. If it sounds silly and irreverent, it is. It's an all-day orange crush party with a flimsy premise that has held up for many years and is adored by many. There's also a kids' Running of the Bull on the beach at Dagsworthy Street at 10:30 a.m. Olé! Inside this weekend's wacky Running of the Bull in Dewey Beach Arrive early to find parking. Wear sunscreen. On June 29, the Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville will host classic rockers Pure Prairie League, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Orleans and Firefall at 7 p.m. Tickets are $59. Most beach towns have free concerts, movies and/or bonfires, plus farmer's markets, at this time of year. Visit your town's website for more details. Last week, a Delaware State Parks' lifeguard rescue made it to TikTok. On June 19, three people (two New Castle County men and a Pennsylvania woman) were swimming off the Indian River Inlet's south side beach, in Delaware Seashore State Park, when they were pulled by the current into the inlet, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control spokesman Michael Globetti said. Three lifeguards entered the inlet and, in what appeared to be a very easy feat for them, got all three swimmers to hold onto a paddleboard until they floated to the bay side and were able to get them out of the water. The swimmers refused medical treatment, Globetti said. It was a very impressive show of skill and training. While getting pulled into the inlet is a whole different animal, rip currents can happen anywhere and pull a swimmer out to sea. If you're caught in one, remain calm and don't fight it. Swim parallel to the beach until the current releases you and you can swim back to shore. Rip currents are the cause of over 100 deaths each year and over 80% of all rescues performed by surf beach guards are related to rip currents, according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association. If you're new to the Delaware beaches, here are some other stories you'll find informative: Curfews: Another Delaware beach town just adopted a youth curfew Surf fishing: Your guide to surf fishing at the Delaware beaches this summer Dogs: Can I bring my dog to a Delaware beach? What to know Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@ or on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What's happening this week at the Delaware beaches
