This summer is shaping out to be another extremely hot one, which makes simply being outdoors a lot more dangerous. Having a job where you work outside is oftentimes a lot harder during extreme weather conditions.
A video taken through a Ring doorbell shows just how dangerous the heat can be for people working outdoors, including delivery drivers.
Brian Enriquez, a resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, got a notification from his Ring doorbell. When he viewed the video, he was horrified to see that the deliveryman who'd been dropping off an envelope collapsed, seemingly from the heat.
In the video, you can see the moment the driver walked up to Enriquez's door unsteadily, and then fall to the ground after dropping an envelope.
Enriquez said that he did not see the notification right away, but regrets it because he could've talked to the driver through the doorbell if he had.
Although he could not speak to the worker directly, Enriquez tried to contact UPS. He also contacted local authorities in order for them to do a wellness check on the employee.
A spokesperson said, "We appreciate the concern for our employee and can report that he is fine. UPS drivers are trained to work outdoors and for the effects of hot weather."
The statement continues, "Our employee used his training to be aware of his situation and contact his manager for assistance, who immediately provided assistance. We never want our employees to continue working to the point that they risk their health or work in an unsafe manner."
This June, a UPS driver passed away after falling unconscious in his truck. His family suspects it was due to the high temperatures inside the truck.
Unfortunately, heat-related illness reports among UPS drivers are nothing new. And yet, the company has no plans to install air conditioning in their trucks, despite growing complaints.
Even with water, this kind of heat can cause dehydration and heatstroke, which can be fatal if not treated properly.
The summer of 2021 is the hottest on record for the United States, and rising temperatures are showing no signs of slowing down. Companies should be doing more to make sure that stories like these don't keep happening.
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