TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — This heat. We knew it was coming thanks to the First Alert Weather team, but it's still hard to handle.
And the many men and women who keep us safe are also taking extra steps to ensure their own safety.
First responders are still suiting up, despite the temperatures.
"Polyester doesn't cool down for you," said Deputy Laura Smith, with the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office.
Smith says that she puts ice packs in her vest as a way to stay cool. Other necessary methods include avoiding salty foods and drinking plenty of water.
"I have a cooler that I keep in my trunk. If I need it, I get it. Sometimes when I see someone in need, I give them one of them," said Smith.
The Tallahassee Fire Department is also making sure that its firefighters remain safe during this heat wave. A memo was sent reminding all of the firefighters of the necessary precautions to take before during and after their shifts.
The memo reminds them to drink water before the start of the work day. It says that in less than 20 minutes of firefighting, you can lose 32 ounces of fluid.
"If you wait to drink until you're thirsty, it's too late," said Jason Pittinger, TFD Staff Captain.
It also suggests the foods they should be eating and drinking during the day and to look out for each other while out and about.
It can get up to 1400 degrees when battling a fire, so the gear comes with features to help them cool off.
"Our firefighter bunker gear is designed to have a moisture barrier. So its designed to let moisture come in but also not escape," said Pittinger.
When the sun is also a contributing factor to the heat, those extra measures become crucial.
The first responders say that while the sun may not seem like much of a threat, everyone should be cautious in this heat.
