ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) —Summer means long days for Josue Ruiz Jr., who is spending his break from school helping his father run the family’s lawn care business, El Ruiz Senior Lawn Care. After hours working in the South Georgia heat, Ruiz said preparation starts before the workday even begins.

“The day before we go to work, we check like the weather,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz said the work is important but can be tough. His father makes safety a priority by ensuring the crew takes frequent breaks and stays hydrated between jobs.

“Sometimes my dad tells me like, if he sees like that, we were very, very hot. Like we look like we were very stressed. He tells us to go to the car and drink some water or a Gatorade to cool down and get inside the car,” Ruiz said.

Doctor warns of warning signs

Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital emergency room doctor James Black said those steps can make a significant difference. Black says heat exhaustion can come on quickly — especially for outdoor workers, older adults and young children — and urged everyone to recognize the warning signs.

“You know, the early things are going to be those sometimes heat cramps and lots of swelling and then the fatigue. You know, those ought to be kind of warning signs that things are happening. And again, you can’t underappreciate those. When those things start to happen, you need to need to seek care or seek shelter, especially,” Black said.

Black said anyone planning to spend hours outside should plan ahead, stay hydrated, take frequent breaks in the shade or an air-conditioned space, and avoid being outside during the hottest parts of the day.

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