Even when the heat's on, public service workers keep their cool
July 28, 2012, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MINHANG has been gripped by a heat wave, putting pressure on local water and power supplies, causing angst for residents who have to be out and increasing the workload for emergency services personnel.
The mercury exceeded 35 degrees Celsius for nearly 10 days in July, topping at 38 degrees on July 6, according to the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau. More scorching weather is forecast for August, when the city moves into the annual typhoon season.
Power and water supplies
Power consumption in July hit a record for the year. On July 6, the hottest day so far in the month, power usage rose to about 3.8 million kilowatts, said the Shanghai South Electric Power Co. On days with highs 35 degrees or more, water consumption reached more than 700,000 cubic meters, according to Shanghai water authority's Minhang branch. That also was a record for the year. Power and water supply failures are more common in hot weather. That means crews from the power and water supplies have to be sent out, no matter what the heat, to do repair work.
Huang Bangquan, 43, is a member of a water repair team in the Xinzhuang area. He is all too familiar with the extreme discomfort of working without air-conditioning.
"Apart from fixing the problems for residents, we also have to clean up all the mess created by repair operations," said Huang. "That's our responsibility."
Traffic
Minhang is trying to adjust bus scheduling to minimize operation of the 40 fleet vehicles without air-conditioning.
But there are snags. One is the No. 15 bus line. The taller air-conditioned buses can't clear the overhang at the Beiwu Road exit. Minhang Passenger Transport said it plans to buy 20 lower air-conditioned buses with wider coaches to put on the route.
The company is also providing tea, soda water and mung bean soup to "cool down" drivers.
The drivers working on non-air-conditioned buses are also being rotated onto air-conditioned vehicles during the day.
Traffic police who have to stand out in the roadways directing vehicle flows sweat out their shifts, which are normally one hour at a stretch in summer.
Ni Jianhua, a 50-year-old traffic assistant working at the crossroad of Shuiqing and Humin roads, said during the shank of the afternoon between 3 and 4pm, you could fry an egg on the pavement.
"I have to keep shifting my feet because it's impossible to stand in one place for long," he said.
There is a sunshade at the crossroad, Ni said, but he doesn't use it. "I give the shade to passers-by so that they wait for the green light instead of jaywalking."
Hospitals
In July, the district's medical hotline dispatched more than 300 ambulances a day, about 40 percent more than it usually does.
Many of the cases are related to heat stroke and related ailments, particularly among more elderly residents.
Hospitals are also packed with patients. Minhang Central Hospital has been treating about 8,000 patients a day, officials said.
Lines start to form at the hospital as early as 8am every day. Nurses are run off their feet.
"During peak times, we don't even have time to stop for a drink of water," said a nurse surnamed Chen. "How we wish we could wear roller skates when we are extremely busy!"
The mercury exceeded 35 degrees Celsius for nearly 10 days in July, topping at 38 degrees on July 6, according to the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau. More scorching weather is forecast for August, when the city moves into the annual typhoon season.
Power and water supplies
Power consumption in July hit a record for the year. On July 6, the hottest day so far in the month, power usage rose to about 3.8 million kilowatts, said the Shanghai South Electric Power Co. On days with highs 35 degrees or more, water consumption reached more than 700,000 cubic meters, according to Shanghai water authority's Minhang branch. That also was a record for the year. Power and water supply failures are more common in hot weather. That means crews from the power and water supplies have to be sent out, no matter what the heat, to do repair work.
Huang Bangquan, 43, is a member of a water repair team in the Xinzhuang area. He is all too familiar with the extreme discomfort of working without air-conditioning.
"Apart from fixing the problems for residents, we also have to clean up all the mess created by repair operations," said Huang. "That's our responsibility."
Traffic
Minhang is trying to adjust bus scheduling to minimize operation of the 40 fleet vehicles without air-conditioning.
But there are snags. One is the No. 15 bus line. The taller air-conditioned buses can't clear the overhang at the Beiwu Road exit. Minhang Passenger Transport said it plans to buy 20 lower air-conditioned buses with wider coaches to put on the route.
The company is also providing tea, soda water and mung bean soup to "cool down" drivers.
The drivers working on non-air-conditioned buses are also being rotated onto air-conditioned vehicles during the day.
Traffic police who have to stand out in the roadways directing vehicle flows sweat out their shifts, which are normally one hour at a stretch in summer.
Ni Jianhua, a 50-year-old traffic assistant working at the crossroad of Shuiqing and Humin roads, said during the shank of the afternoon between 3 and 4pm, you could fry an egg on the pavement.
"I have to keep shifting my feet because it's impossible to stand in one place for long," he said.
There is a sunshade at the crossroad, Ni said, but he doesn't use it. "I give the shade to passers-by so that they wait for the green light instead of jaywalking."
Hospitals
In July, the district's medical hotline dispatched more than 300 ambulances a day, about 40 percent more than it usually does.
Many of the cases are related to heat stroke and related ailments, particularly among more elderly residents.
Hospitals are also packed with patients. Minhang Central Hospital has been treating about 8,000 patients a day, officials said.
Lines start to form at the hospital as early as 8am every day. Nurses are run off their feet.
"During peak times, we don't even have time to stop for a drink of water," said a nurse surnamed Chen. "How we wish we could wear roller skates when we are extremely busy!"
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