Temperatures are practically off the charts and the sun is beating down relentlessly, but one still has to go to work.

Outside jobs in the heat of summer can be quite grueling, but those who face the high temps on a regular basis do have ways to handle those conditions.

Tony Alligood of Alligood Roofing in Washington said he and his crews often start work as early as 6:30 or 7 a.m. in order to avoid the worst of the heat. That usually allows them to knock off by 2 p.m. when the temperatures may be at their worst.

“I’ve been doing roofing work since I was old enough to climb a ladder,” Alligood said. “Daddy started the company in 1972 and I started helping when I was 12 or 13.”

His experience has helped him develop a few tips along the way to stay cooler while working under a blistering sun.

“Keep water with you; drink at least a bottle of water every hour,” Alligood advised. “Keep your head protected and wear cool clothing, something that will breathe. When you start feeling your heart rate go up and you start feeling dizzy, it’s time to come down and get cool.”

Jason Foreman, a lineman with Washington Utilities, said he’s worked outside with a heat index as high as 105 degrees. Staying hydrated certainly helps.

“We wear long sleeves to protect us against sunburn, and if we’re working on a line we wear rubber gloves and rubber sleeves; that’s always hotter,” he said. “We try to take a break and get something to drink whenever we can.”

Summer brings hot weather, but working outside in the winter also has its drawbacks. Foreman said he does prefer working in the cooler months.

“You can always put more clothes on, but you can’t take enough off,” he said with a laugh.

There are often misconceptions regarding law enforcement officers and their exposure to the summer heat, according to Lt. Kelly Cox of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.

“People may think we are riding around in an air-conditioned patrol all the time, but the reality of it is that we are constantly getting in and out of the cars, so we’re exposed to temperature fluctuations from hot to cold,” Cox noted. “And unlike with other professions, we carry a lot more on us. We have a vest that weighs approximately 10 pounds and our duty belt can add on another 15 pounds. One reason for our uniform change was to switch to a lighter material.”

Cox agreed with Alligood and Foreman that hydration is the key.

“It’s really easy to kill a bottle of water an hour, especially when we’re on an active crime scene investigation or helping out with traffic control,” he said. “If we do know that deputies will be on the scene for a long time, we make sure we switch them out.”

Along with staying hydrated, there are other precautions people can take while working outside during the summer months, said Capt. Shane Grier of Chocowinity EMS.

“Avoid alcoholic beverages and avoid salty foods; eat more fruits and vegetables for extra fluids,” he said. “Drink plenty of fluids and stay in air conditioning whenever you can. And you should wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes when you are outside.”

What are some of the signs of heat related illnesses?

“Severe dehydration occurs as you sweat to cool off; you lose body fluids just by sweating,” Grier said. “Your urine will be dark and other symptoms include fatigue, constipation, breathing difficulties and low blood pressure. If not corrected, you can go into heat exhaustion, and if that’s not corrected, you can have a heat stroke. Then you actually quit sweating and you loose all ability for your body to cure itself.”

It’s not just workers who should take extra precautions during the summer.

“Babies and children, older people and people with chronic illnesses should be especially careful,” Grier added.