Workers brave extreme temperatures as heat wave stretches on in Chicago

While many have been able to remain indoors during the heat wave, countless Chicago workers have continued to endure sweltering conditions as extreme temperatures persist throughout the week.

Faheem Jackson, who was working construction in Douglas on Wednesday, is among the many workers doing their best to make it through the day as temperatures climbed into the 90s and the heat index reached nearly 100 degrees.

“There is no staying cool right now,” said Jackson, 34. “The heat is no joke.”

Jackson, who is in his third construction season, said he has been staying hydrated and taking breaks in the shade to find some relief from the heat.

“I just try not to think about the time as it goes by,” he said.

Wednesday marked the fourth consecutive day of a heat wave that brought “dangerously” hot and humid conditions to much of the area. An extreme heat warning remained in effect through early Friday, with temperatures expected to stay in the 90s throughout the week and heat indexes reaching up to 105 Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

And even more workers were out on the roads than usual. The Illinois Department of Transportation warned drivers to be aware of both pavement failures on roads due to the brutal heat, as well as the crews trying to make quick emergency repairs.

“While it’s impossible to predict where or when these failures might occur, maintenance personnel will be monitoring road conditions and on standby to make repairs as quickly as possible when they are observed and reported,” the agency said in a statement. “The public is advised to anticipate slowing traffic and move over for workers and other emergency personnel when repairs are being made.”

For those who have to be in the heat, the Illinois Department of Health suggests wearing loose, light-colored, cotton clothing, avoid direct sunlight when possible and taking regularly scheduled rest periods to hydrate. The health department also suggests using a buddy system when working outside, as heat-related illness can develop quickly and “with or without feelings of discomfort” first.

In suburban Riverside, trash pickup was scheduled to start early Thursday to avoid workers still being out when the heat index value peaks at noon.

Laurence Rivers Jr., who corrals shopping carts at a Mariano’s in Bronzeville, told the Sun-Times he’s been staying cool by going inside the store for breaks.

“I go in and I get some water and some freeze pops,” said Rivers, who was holding an orange-flavored freezer pop in his mouth while corralling the carts.

Thunderstorms were expected to move through the area Thursday night and continue into the July 4 holiday weekend, weather officials said. The storms would offer slight temperature drops into the 80s, though conditions would remain hot and humid.

The heat was also impacting the energy grid, as widespread air conditioning use surged electricity demand.

ComEd activated its “voluntary load reduction” program Wednesday, which asks high-consumption commercial and industrial customers — as well as some residential customers — to reduce electricity use during peak usage hours.

The energy company suggests covering windows and having fans spin counter-clockwise to increase airflow and reduce the need for air conditioning, while also turning thermostats to a warmer temperature when away from home. Any devices not being used, including electric lights, should ideally be unplugged, officials said.

“We have crews ready to respond quickly and safely to any service interruptions, and we are working hard behind the scenes to keep the power flowing during what is shaping up to be a dangerous stretch of heat,” said David Perez, executive vice-president and COO of ComEd.