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Jonathan AlfonsoSaving Lives during Climate Crises
There is a heat wave affecting much of the United States and Europe. During heat waves, it is often too hot and humid for the body to effectively cool itself, increasing the risk of heat stroke or even death. As climate change causes these crises to become more intense and frequent, it's very important to keep yourself and others safe - especially those who may not have freedom to limit their exposure to these unsafe conditions. Grocery store employees, mail couriers, food and parcel delivery drivers, and many other individuals are often forced to work during these times with little to no accommodation. Having previously worked at Walmart in my late teens, I have personally experienced a heat wave and know what it's like to be out in the hot sun all day without any formal accommodations from my employer. I was punished for taking too many breaks to get water at the water fountain, being told I should have brought my own water. An empathetic manager provided sugary drinks to help keep us hydrated and energized, but was also punished for taking product from shelves for this purpose. As the legal standards protecting individuals from extreme weather are often lacking as I experienced, I believe it is important to take personal action to keep these people safe. There are ways that individuals can reduce the weather expsoure for these workers. I would like to go over a few areas that we can directly address these concerns, then go over the societal changes that should be in place to protect these individuals. Saving it for later Whether it's online shopping, getting groceries, or having contractors fix something on your home, deferring the need for these tasks to when the weather improves could save lives or simply help someone's day be better. Extreme weather puts strain on the systems that keep society afloat, and reducing the load on these systems could make a significant difference for someone. Groceries Photo by Eduardo Soares on Pexels.com If you are able, consider picking up your groceries in-store, or schedule grocery pickup for times of the day that have cooler temperatures. The interior of these buildings are cooled with massive air conditioning units, but the outside of these buildings are surrounded by parking lots with extremely hot asphalt which makes the air around the building significantly hotter than the ambient temperature - with some studies showing the air is at least 35 degrees (fahrenheit) hotter than the air would have been1 otherwise. This puts grocery store employees at high risk of heat stroke, as they constantly cycle from the store to cars where they are loading groceries into. Packages Photo by Ekaterina Belinskaya on Pexels.com Additionally, during times of extreme weather, consider choosing a slower delivery option or make your purchase when the weather is more mild. USPS workers often drive the Grumman LLV, a vehicle not equipped with air conditioning. While the USPS is replacing these vehicles with the Oshkosh NGDV, most USPS employees do not yet have the new vehicles. Additionally, many delivery drivers need to walk long distances for some residents to deliver packages or mail. You may consider having your packages delivered to a common package pickup facility, where the package can be held for you until you are able to pick it up. These facilities are bulk-pickup locations where many packages can be delivered at once by the driver, reducing the amount of walking and vehicle stops needed. Food Delivery Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV on Pexels.com Avoid having food delivered to your home during hours of peak heat. Food delivery drivers may not always have working air conditioning, and the heat is stressful on aging or poorly maintained vehicles, which could cause a breakdown. I have a dark-colored project vehicle which does not have air conditioning, and on hot days it is not drivable because of how hot the interior gets with the engine heat combined with ambient heat. Contractors Photo by D Goug on Pexels.com If you are having service done on your home or property, consider contacting your contractor to ask if they would prefer another day where the weather is cooler. It is incredibly dangerous for contractors to be working outside in this weather. Becoming dizzy due to dehydration on a ladder could be fatal for them. If this work is essential, offer your contractor frequent breaks, hydration, and opportunity to cool off in your home. On The Road Photo by Viktoria B. on Pexels.com Always check your back seat. Cars get very hot, and an average of thirty-seven children die2 each year due to being left in a hot car. In 2024, at least 111 dogs died after being left in hot cars3. Even if your car has air conditioning, that does not mean it is a safe place to leave a living creature. Air conditioning can fail, batteries die, engines stall, and a car can easily become an oven for anything left inside. Generally, during extreme weather, it is best to stay home if you can. The least you can expose yourself, your family, and your pets to extreme weather, the better. The bigger picture These issues do not exist in a vacuum. I should not have been treated how I was when I worked at Walmart. There should be better protections for workers limiting their exposure to dangerous conditions. A majority of people would agree that the USPS provides a critical role, but not every package or letter they deliver is urgent or is needed in the middle of a heat wave, blizzard, or extreme cold. Workers deserve to be safe at their workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration - OSHA - would do well to enforce stricter limits on what is allowable during extreme weather, even for critical roles which must continue to operate regardless of the weather. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw quite a bit of change. Many businesses found different ways to operate. Remote work became a lot more common. We learned what parts of society were essential to keep it moving. I believe the climate crisis should be treated similarly. As time goes on, extreme weather will continue to get worse. It is real - the winters I remember as a child are largely gone and summers continue to get hotter. We need to accept that the reality we live in is one where our climate will become more hostile, and we as a society need to be ready for this challenge. During the 1980s, it was discovered that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were causing damage to the Earth's ozone layer, increasing the risk of skin cancers worldwide. In response, the United Nations enacted the Montreal Protocol to permanently alter how these chemicals would be used, often removing them from commercial goods entirely. This was a worldwide crisis where swift action was taken to address a world-wide climate emergency and it worked. We are in a time where this type of action is needed. We must take a multifaceted approach to climate change. Every angle must be approached, because climate change affects every aspect of our lives worldwide. Humanity has the capacity to make great change, great improvement, and make the lives of everyone better. We can save millions of lives and improve the quality of life for billions to come. So when can we get started? […]https://alfonsojon.com/2026/06/29/saving-lives-during-climate-crises/
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