INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — City and state officials on Wednesday said to expect to see more workers early in the morning and fewer in the afternoon as hot weather settles in.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. High humidity will push heat index values up to 105 or possibly higher. Indianapolis Department of Public Works officials said crews will avoid working after late morning except in an emergency. Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) spokesperson Natalie Garrett said much the same thing for state-level contractors. Although INDOT doesn’t have direct control over highway construction workers, she said the agency strongly encourages contractors to have crews start work early in the morning so they can get a full day in before peak heat arrives in the afternoon.

“We’re closely monitoring any alerts that are out there from the National Weather Service,” Garrett said. “Also, more frequent breaks, access to air conditioning, whether in a vehicle or a facility, and providing access to water.”

Dr. Sean Trusty, an ER physician for Community Health Network, said if you must work outside during peak heat hours, it’s a good idea to hydrate ahead of time. Trusty said by the time you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated and it can be hard to catch up with your body’s needs if it’s hot outside. Trusty said you should take frequent breaks and work at a slower pace than you normally do.

“The same job that you may do when the temperature is not as bad might take a heavier toll on you, so to speak, when you’re working out in that heat,” Trusty said. “So, just kind of expect to go at a little slower pace and that might pay dividends for you in terms of kind of avoiding heat exhaustion.”

Trusty said so far this summer, he hasn’t seen very many patients for heat-related illness. He said he credits greater public awareness of symptoms and how to prevent it. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, tiredness, and muscle cramps. If you start to experience those symptoms, cooling your body down will prevent you from reaching heatstroke.

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