KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffOutdoor workers deal with frigid temperatures

Outdoor workers deal with frigid temperatures

By Julia Bruck - bio | email

WEST FRANKFORT, IL (KFVS) - For many people, when temperatures drop into the signal digits, they avoid going outside.  However, for some people they have no choice. It's their job.

Six days a week letters and bills arrive in your mailbox, thanks to people like Jason Beavers.

"Rain, snow or whatever we're out there," Beavers said.  

But on days when the temperature does not get above freezing, Beavers says it can get a little cold.

"If you stay moving and keep a lot of layers of cloths on it's not too bad," he said.  

 Beavers, covers most of his nearly 6-mile mail route on foot.  That means, unfortunately, he does not spend much time in the mail truck.

Beavers laughed and said, "He's not that lucky."  

Beavers says on very cold days he brings along something extra to help stay warm.

"I brought along a thermos full of hot chocolate the last two days and it's made a difference," he said.  

Beavers says it's not too bad when the sun is shining and there is no wind.  But once the sun starts to set, things get cold.  

"It drops into the signal digits.  You have to protect your hands, your feet and everything has to be protected," West Frankfort Firefighter Robert Williams said.

Williams says they wear bunker gear to every call, even if there is no blaze involved, to fight the cold.  But he adds at a fire often they fight more than just flames.  

"Everything freezes.  Your hands, your gloves freeze, your bunker gear freezes.  So we usually have a relief truck there that is heated, an ambulance, or another engine," Williams said.  

All efforts to stay warm and safe, as those like Williams and Beavers, do jobs we depend on, no matter the temperature outside.

"It's miserable when you get out.  But our gear keeps us warm," Williams said.  

He says if you head outside remember to cover up and dress in layers.  But adds if you start to get cold, it is best to head inside and warm up.

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