I had tried all the usual procedures.

The outside pipe that runs from my air-conditioner condenser to the house had frozen, and like my dad had instructed me, I turned the unit off and the fan on to thaw it out.

I was successful.

The polar ice cap surrounding the pipe melted. Unfortunately, when I turned the air-conditioner back on there was still no cool air running through the vents inside my home.

So, with the July temperatures just heating up, I called a repairman.

Once he arrived, he tried diligently to get my unit working again and for a couple of days, it did.

I reveled in the miracle he had pulled off. But eventually, the worst case scenario resulted: I was going to need a new air conditioner.

When my guy returned to repair, replace and get things cooled off, as with his earlier visit, he was relegated to working outside in the hot and humid temperatures.

When I went out to check on him and see how things were progressing, I noticed sweat profusely running down his face.

It made me feel bad how he had to work outside in the 90-degree temperatures with humidity levels high enough to drown a cat.

Therefore, I offered to help. Fortunately for me, he turned my services down.

So, I went back inside where, although there was no cool air pumping from the unit, I did have fans going.

After several hours of concerted efforts that included coming and going from inside the house to making sure everything was running properly, I am happy to report, my air conditioning fellow got everything back to normal.

And without a doubt, Entergy is sure to love me since my thermostat is now set closer to 70 degrees rather than 90.

Following this recent repair, I was reminded that during this time of year, not only can those whose jobs require them to work outdoors experience some discomfort due to the heat, it can also be dangerous.

Therefore, in an effort to be safe, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends those who work in the heat to take shorter shifts until their bodies become acclimated to the higher temperatures, and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.  

It also recommends you look out for one another and be alert to a co-worker, or in my case a repairman, if they begin to exhibit signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

And for anyone working in the heat, whether job related or not, be sure and take time to rest and cool down.

This week, heat indexes have hovered around the triple digits.

I may not have been able to assist with repairs, but I did offer up a cold bottle of water to my guy.

It was the least I could do for his hard, hot work.

With summer being only a two weeks old, we have a long way to go until cooler air arrives.

So, be cognizant of the heat and take care of yourself and others.

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. She can be reached at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.