To those of you who can't do the typical staying cool stuff, how are you staying cool?
Posted by hhhanns@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 43 comments
I work for the NHS and this trust opted for the new scrubs. They're basically maroon binbags with 0 breathability. My clinic room is inside the inside, if that makes sense, so no windows. Air con has been broken for a few years and is too expensive to replace. Not allowed fans for infection control reasons - we did have those Dyson oval ones for a while but they've all broken or gone missing. It got to 34 degrees in there today. Doesn't help that my meds make it hard to regulate my temperature.
I'm getting through 3ish litres of water in a shift, I'm using a laminated sheet of A4 to fan myself, I'm doing cold water on pulse points wherever I can and getting outside in the shade if I get a few minutes. I'm wearing merino socks. I'm going to the far away taps in the air conditioned kitchen when I need more water.
I feel like being shiny and red and dishevelled doesn't do much to fill patients with confidence in my professionalism and experience. Half an hour into a shift I look like an overexcited 7 year old after too many blue smarties at a disco. I feel profoundly slimy and gross.
I'm sure construction workers, farmers, engineers, factory workers etc etc have to endure this too. How are we staying sane and hydrated? Can I put ice packs in my undies? Does anyone know how much of a telling off I'd get for smashing a hole in the ceiling and fitting my own air con unit?
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wykniv@reddit
It's insane to me that this is deemed acceptable. I'm also sorry that your request for reasonable adjustments has been ignored (I'm in a similar position myself and it's so hard to have got to the point of managing to say you need something only to have a brick wall tell you no one cares). If you feel you can push that, go for it. Not sure if an occupational health report might help.
Anyway, the ice vest recommended sounds incredible and I will be getting one myself! Other than that, I got a Kool n Soothe (my preferred brand of cold patches for headaches and migraines) [not sponsored; I wish I was] cooling pillow and it's amazing. Maybe not the ultimate fix for you, but you could have it on your chair and to lean against your back when you're sitting down (if you get to sit down, which I guess you might not!). Annoyingly, the one I got is now out of stock, but I'm sure there are lots of others.
Glum_Sherbet_5413@reddit
This sounds like something a lot bigger tbh. Maybe take it to r/legaladviceuk
hhhanns@reddit (OP)
Yeah honestly this was supposed to be silly and lighthearted and maybe I'd get some tips I'd not heard of. It's fine, no laws are being broken, I'm not unsafe, I'm just an 837th generation northerner and the lack of breeze turns me into a whiny little baby
Glum_Sherbet_5413@reddit
I get that but if they're failing to keep staff safe in such temperatures AND failing to provide you reasonable adjustments it might actually be a legal issue. Not a lawyer or anything but could be worth looking into.
Ki1664@reddit
I live in Scotland. It’s 18 degrees today I still had a jumper on
EuphoricCover8449@reddit
The best way to get the A/C fixed is for you and your colleagues to faint.
All the time you keep soldiering on without it, they won't fix it.
My hat is raised to your dedication.
Agitated_Parsnip_178@reddit
Swamp cooler? Frozen 2 or 5 liter bottles in front of desk fans?
InkedDoll1@reddit
No fans allowed in clinic rooms, sadly
Xivii@reddit
Not at work currently but I’ve just stuck an ice pack down my top..
NecroVelcro@reddit
I was only doing the washing up but got so hot that I stuck a freezer block under my bra.
7thtimeinheaven@reddit
Got no advice for you mate but I enjoyed reading this
Difficult-Vacation-5@reddit
OP sounds like a health and safety issue !!! Is there no mechanism for someone working in NHS (already underpaid) to have decent working conditions?!
Unhappy_Zamboni@reddit
The last hospital I worked at had a shiny new build block for their cancer patients with lovely big windows. It was a fucking sauna.The stairwell had staff and patients fainting on the stairs. The tiny nursing office was basically an oven. The service manager claims he put in requests to get it sorted but it never happened in my time. The "no max working temperatures" meant the nurses had to suck it up. The stairs just got blocked off.
learxqueen@reddit
It's like this in my trust too so I'm guessing it's the same up & down the country 😢
Any-Pattern8246@reddit
How do you think we feel in hospitality? How do you think we feel for those of us that is cooking meat and we're standing next to that stove for 12hrs in this heat? I get told "oh but it's worse for us in the office", Really? I then get told "but the London tube is hotter" Really? They then tell me its hot standing next to the stove at home cooking for what? 20 min but it was "FINE" (they said) for those of us standing in front of a stove 12hrs a day as a chef we don't have air con in the kitchen
PM-me-your-cuppa-tea@reddit
Why are you using this post to attack OP, they're asking for help from people who have it worse than them!
OP is hardly an office worker in AC paradise. And I've never seen anyone say office workers have it worse, that'd be an absolutely wild take.
SCWeak@reddit
No one likes someone who tries to one-up someone else. It sucks for everybody.
getoutmywayatonce@reddit
Especially on a post that’s specifically mentioned they know they’re not the only one having a hard time, and outright asking for people also having a hard time for tips.
hhhanns@reddit (OP)
Oh for real, I genuinely don't know how chefs etc do it especially when your shifts are like 12 hours or more. I get the impression whites are similar in terms of trapping alllll the heat and sweat in too. I salute your bravery
Icy-Belt-8519@reddit
I haven't worked this year, last year killed me though, I'm a paramedic, we had one patient who needed the heating on in the truck! 😭 😭
Hand held fan, ice in insulated cups, washing my hands normally then with freezing cold water, cooling spray
hhhanns@reddit (OP)
Do you also wear an....icy belt? aaaahahaaaaaaaa
123bmc@reddit
My dog has a cooling mat, which I regularly sit on when my office becomes hotter than the sun. You can get them fairly cheap and they don’t need to be frozen or anything
math577@reddit
If you wear scrubs you must work in Theatres or something then? Who in your Estates department letting your area get that hot when you've got ventilation?
hhhanns@reddit (OP)
The air con system is beyond repair and would need a total replacement and the trust doesn't have the budget to do that. Apparently the building will likely be demolished in the next decade so every cloud!! But yeah there's no legal maximum working temperature because people work in kitchens and furnaces and what have you.
math577@reddit
The HTM for ventilation does state min and max temperatures for clinical spaces like theatres and prep, recovery rooms etc. Lists can be cancelled if they're not correct, mainly for patients but it will apply to you anyway if you work in theatres itself.
My trust is also skint but so is every other one. One of our theatres I have to go up and manually change the air temperature using a commercial air con wall controller. The air handling unit is about to be replaced but it's easily a 300k+ project.
hhhanns@reddit (OP)
I'm in an outpatient review clinic, not theatres. We don't have any medication storage or anything so no real sway with legislation. It first broke about 3 years ago so we've done all the recommendations for office spaces etc. I get that they can't pull money out of nowhere but LORD just being able to wear non-polyester clothes would slap
math577@reddit
Me and my staff have to work in the boiler houses and plant rooms in the roof spaces in full uniform. Not even allowed to wear shorts so you're incredibly lucky.
Don't even have ventilation at all in my office and I'm the estates officer for the entire site.
Wonderful-Newt2181@reddit
I went for a long ride today. Stopped at 3 pubs in different villages to try and get some food. All kitchens were shut due to the heat.
PolarLocalCallingSvc@reddit
I ordered an 'ice hat', one which is really thick so the ice or gel or whatever lasts for ages; and I'm properly converted.
You look like a twat wearing one but whatever works!
Quiet_surprise79@reddit
Iron deficiency is proving very effective, but if you're worried about looking disheveled, it's probably not the answer for you!
learxqueen@reddit
I also work for the NHS and feel your pain!! I work in a tiny office with no windows and barely any ventilation. I've brought in my own hand held, chargeable fan & what I've also found quite useful is running my wrists under cold water for a few minutes (as often as required)!! Sounds silly but it actually does help.
FakeNordicAlien@reddit
In Japan they have neck fans, and jackets with fans in them, but I don’t expect you’d be allowed to wear them at work.
A friend’s dad, who was a commercial (?) baker, used to dampen shirts (just a little) and then put them in the freezer and wear them when he got super hot. Not sure that would last more than a few minutes though.
I used to use a spray called Magicool. No idea if it actually worked or was just a placebo effect, but I felt a bit cooler.
The only thing that really worked for me was moving to Hong Kong for a summer, and then when I got back, England seemed balmy by comparison. I suppose that’s not an option?
silver_quinn@reddit
Ah Magicool is a miracle! There's some similar off-brand sprays that work well too.
hhhanns@reddit (OP)
Oh I haven't seen magicool in YEARS but it was a godsend as an itchy kid. Getting on this
bumford11@reddit
I urinate all over myself and let the power of evaporative cooling do the rest.
hhhanns@reddit (OP)
Mate how aren't you our chief exec
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
You are on meds so ask for a reasonable adjustment - been told in government that reasonable adjustment is distinct from maintenance in terms of budget and was quite a bit so try to get a dyson fan back on those grounds.
Otherwise wearable vests that take ice packs are available. A neck cooler at least
hhhanns@reddit (OP)
I won't go into too much detail about my quest for reasonable adjustments but in summary: lol. lmao.
Wearable ice vest sounds banging though, looking those bad boys up
IndependentSong1484@reddit
I've a stack of the ice packs that come with my fresh meat delivery..... One in the front of my pants and one in the back, one for my neck and head. Swap out for fresh ones as needed, rotating those packs in the freezer!!
Serious_Badger_4145@reddit
You can get cooling vests. Literally icepacks strapped to you. often used for ms. I've seen ones designed specifically for surgeons so I think you're far from the only one with this issue. I think it's insane the quality of a lot of scrubs they expect people to wear
SwaggersHereditary@reddit
Bitch you work for the NHS. YOU TELL US.
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