It's So Hot Out There

By Cherita Smith, David Strom and Laura Medina

There’s no single way to beat the heat in Arizona.

From water breaks, shade stops and adequate relaxation time, most Phoenix residents know how to stay cool in stifling temperatures.

“It’s a little hard to stay away from, but try and stay in the shade when outside, drink lots of water, and I know there’s a lot of places with misters,” said Kevin Borland, who is moving to Phoenix from Yuma, Arizona.

Some city occupants have more unique cool-down methods.
            “You wake up in the air conditioning, get in the air-conditioned car, air-conditioned workplace, back home, throw the steaks on the grill, hop in the pool, have a beer, flip them over, and back into the air conditioning,” said Scott Brennan, a bellman at the Sheraton Hotel.

“That’s how you beat the heat -- stay in the shade or stay in the pool. It’s 70 degrees; it’s as bad as 110 when you’re out in the direct sun,” added Brennan, who is originally from Detroit, Michigan.

Working in the heat is not easy, and for Juan Leyva, a landscaper at the Phoenix-based Shamrock Landscaping Inc., surviving the outdoors has its own requirements.

“We just do our best in this kind of heat,” he said. “Once I get home, I can’t go straight into the shower. My body is really hot right now; I have to wait for my body to cool off a little bit.”

Leyva also had a suggestion for Phoenix visitors.

“Get plenty of rest so you can make it through hot days,” he said. 

Thane "Goldie" Eichenauer, of Phoenix, uses a red umbrella to stay cool.

The Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Phoenix features water misters upon entering the front lobby.