For Those Who Work Outside, Cold Is No Excuse
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The frigid air is forcing people to layer up and to keep moving to deal with this near-record cold.
It's cold out there. On Independence Mall, there is an unofficial reading of 8 degrees. The official record low was 9, set in 1934.
You don't have to do much math to know it's bone-chilling, life-threatening, misery-making cold. But that's no excuse for many people who have to press on and do their jobs whatever the weather conditions.
Jose Arroyo is a doorman at the Four Seasons Hotel. He's been doing his job for 31 years, so he's pretty much seen everything Mother Nature has to offer. He says he doesn't dwell on the fact that it's cold, "I don't think about that, but I'm already used to it. I'm already used to this weather, so I'm already prepared. As long as you get thermal underwear and you get good clothing, you'll be fine."
Arroyo says the key is to keep moving, "As long as you stay active and moving around. You can't just stand around, because you'll definitely freeze. And you can't be thinking of the cold weather. You just have to go out there and do your job."
His colleague, Anthony Rodriguez says eating is key, providing fuel for your body, with foods like hot soup. "We eat well, dress well. If we actually get bitter windy, we can step out of the way. Warm your body up and then come back out."