Omaha experienced record-breaking temperatures last week according to Monthly Climate Records from the National Weather Service. The city dropped to 15 degrees below zero last Monday and negative 23 degrees last Tuesday – the coldest temperature in the last 25 years.
Despite the cold, the United States Postal Service continued, navigating icy roads and sidewalks to get people their mail.
“Right now, all the folks that need their medication and COVID[-19], people don’t want to go out to the stores,” said Clint Campos, an Omaha letter carrier. “We got to get them their stuff, and that’s just the way it is.”
Exposure to these temperatures can lead to frostbite. Frostbite develops after significant exposure to extremely cold temperatures, defined as around 32 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a Frostbite Safety report from UNMC’s Public Health department. Critically cold temperatures can lead to Hypothermia, resulting in infections and amputations in extreme circumstances. Symptoms are likely to occur if wet clothing is worn in the cold.
“Even in that cold of temperature, your clothes get wet and you need to keep changing them out,” said Campos.
Shivering, exhaustion, memory loss, and fumbling hands are all symptoms of hypothermia, according to the CDC.
Despite the potential health risks, letter carriers and other outdoor workers continue their work in the cold. They understand their work is essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.
