Wellness

[ivey]

My rural carrier works in one of those big white trucks with the windows/door open year around and has done that for years and years. I'm sure it's not air conditioned because it would be a nightmare to cool. He's a good guy and probably has plenty of years toward retirement.

By the way, the postal service is an independent agency of the Federal government, so complaining to town councils, senators, congressmen, etc. is going to fall on deaf ears. They don't have any jurisdiction.

So Mail Lady is going to have to look after her own comfort on this one or contact superiors at the postal service. Hope you can try some of these ideas and they work. Stay cool.

[adoreqvc]

I travel extensively and always take a small hand held portable fan with me which runs on AA batteries. Those fans are available in stores and on the internet.

Those small hand held portable fans really help with battling the European heat, and are very useful anywhere I go.

[sidsmom]

Classic. Everyone complaining about no a/c....that sooooo "First World problem'!! Many, many, many people work & live without air-conditioning. I would venture to guess any UPS, FedEx, USPS truck I see here in Dallas would NOT have A/C.

Good ideas from previous posts, but I would add....watch what you eat....sounds like a simple idea, but if you eat heavy, your body can't cool itself down quickly. Eat lots of hydrating fruits/veggies, less heavy animal protein...your body will use the energy saved from eating heavy to cool you off. And lots of water.

[Theoriginallacey]

On 7/16/2014 ennui1 said:

On 7/15/2014 Frannie said:

That's inhumane - can't you file a grievance?

Oh, honestly, are you serious? How did the human race survive for CENTURIES without air conditioning?

Why don't you stop using any and let us know?

[Tribesters]

Having driven the USPS LLV's I sympathize with you. They're hot in the summer & awful on winter roads. Years ago I was involved with QWL (Quality of Work Life) with rural carriers. I believe it was the NRLCA (rural carrier's union) that requested that surplus postal vehicles be provided for rural carriers. The carriers that worked for me preferred to drive their own vehicles but there were others that wanted the USPS to provide the vehicle. It's an added expense to maintain a vehicle for the route. Yes you get EMA but some carriers say it doesn't cover the cost of maintaining the vehicle. If you have your own vehicle it's YOUR problem when that vehicle breaks down on the route. YOU have to get a back-up vehicle out there. When you're driving a USPS vehicle it's THEIR problem when you break down. They have to provide the replacement vehicle. I guess there are advantages/disadvantages to having your own vehicle vs. the postal vehicle. But I am pretty sure your union is the one that was pushing for this. But I did see on QVC this afternoon some cooling cloths that would work great to keep you cool. Good luck- it's not an easy job. I interviewed & hired tons of rural carriers over the years. People think it's easy to deliver the mail from a vehicle, it's not..... Many of them quite after just a few days. Hang in there!

[Sister Golden Hair]

Tribefan is right about driving your own car. We had to maintain two blazers at all times in case one broke down. Driving on the gravel roads are terrible on tires too. My husband went 115 miles a day, so every day you had to gas up.

Yes, it is a good job but I know I couldn't do it.

[mail lady]

I have gotten alot of good ideas .Thanks everyone I love my job and live in small town and wish I could continue to drive my jeep. I just don't like change and love my radio and air conditioning, but am very blessed to have a job I love.

[MomCat]

Geez, what a panic some of you are in. There are many people other than the post office who work outside and drive vehicles without air conditioning. Surprise, surprise. Not pleasant, but there are ways to cope.

[dex]

People can get sick from too much heat exposure....If air conditioning is not in the vehicle but yet it is in most cars on the road these days I wonder why.Air conditioning is for comfort and health not just luxury.