ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The sweltering summer heat we all know and love and sometimes dread is back. Unless you’re at the pool or the beach, chances are being stuck indoors without air conditioning can put a damper on your day. Utility workers are out and about working in the heat, to make sure power stays on.

But working outside can be a hazard during a heat wave. 

Matthew Kushmick is no stranger to the sticky summer heat, having lived in Florida for his whole life. As a utility worker for Duke Energy, Kushmick’s office is always outside. Most of his days start with a pre-job brief, which lately has included a plan to deal with the heat. 

Kushmick and his crew said their biggest priority is staying hydrated and watching out for one another. 

“You definitely want to be your brother’s keeper and keep an eye on people, especially the guys that are in the bucket, climbing the pole,” Kushmick, a line tech apprentice, said. “That’s probably our biggest thing in the heat right now. Even being mildly dehydrated you can kind of lose motor function and cognitive thinking, so that’s a big one working on power lines.”

Kushmick explained that he and his crew follow strict safety policies that are in place. All the trucks are equipped with ice coolers and water jugs. They’re all trained to know the signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration, as well as how to respond in an emergency.

“You’re wanting to watch for guys that have been climbing, digging holes,” Kushmick said. “Make sure they’re pronouncing their words correctly. They’re not slurring their words. You’re going to look at their skin - if they look very, very red. As a hydration coach, I’m kind of monitoring hey has this guy had a drink in the last 15, 20 minutes, 45 minutes. If not, I’m going to go grab some out of the cooler, I’m going to get it over to everyone to make sure we just take a 15 minute break, get everybody to just chug a water bottle or two.”

Kuschmick said the work they do is not as easy as it may seem, especially when the heat index is above 100 degrees.

“We have those big rubber gloves on, we have our long-sleeved shirts, pants,” he said. “It is very hot. It’s sometimes hard to stay focused, so you’ve got to come down, stay hydrated. I mean, that is the biggest thing is hydration when you’re up there.”

Whether it’s out in the heat or in the middle of a storm, Kushmick said he does his job to serve the community he calls home and finds it rewarding to help his neighbors. 

If you’re looking for ways to keep your home cool without seeing a huge jump in your electric bill, here are some tips from Duke Energy:

• Set your thermostat to the highest comfortable temperature.

• Turn any fans off when there is no one in the room.

• Change your air filters regularly to make sure your A/C system is running efficiently. 

• Keep blinds and curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day.