An ironworker named Antoine taught me more about heat than any medical textbook.
We were on a site in Houston. 97 degrees, 85% humidity. The kind of heat where the air feels like soup.
Antoine had been working in it for 20 years. Never had heat exhaustion. I asked him his secret.
“Ain’t no secret,” he said. “Just three rules.”
Rule one: Acclimatization is everything
Your body can adapt to heat. But it takes time.
When the temperature spikes—first hot week of summer, or you’re coming back from vacation—your heat tolerance is lower. That’s when most heat incidents happen.
The protocol:
- First hot day: 50% normal workload
- Second day: 60%
- Third day: 70%
- By day seven: Full capacity
Most crews don’t do this. They push hard from day one. Then they wonder why guys go down.
Antoine’s crew? They know. First 95+ day of the year, they ease into it.
Rule two: Work the clock, not the thermometer
Antoine’s crew starts at 5 AM in summer. Done by 1 PM most days.
“Sun’s the enemy,” he said. “Don’t fight it. Work around it.”
The timing hierarchy:
- Best: Pre-dawn to mid-morning
- Acceptable: Late afternoon to dusk
- Avoid: 11 AM to 3 PM if possible
Not every job allows this. But when you can shift your schedule, do it.
If you can’t avoid midday work:
- Mandatory breaks every hour
- Shade or cooling tent required
- Rotate tasks so nobody’s in direct sun continuously
Rule three: The hydration-electrolyte-rest system
This is where most guys fail. They think hydration alone is enough.
Antoine’s system:
Pre-work: 16-20 oz water with electrolytes before stepping outside
During work:
- 8 oz water every 20 minutes (set a timer)
- Electrolyte drink or powder every second round
- One 10-minute break per hour in shade
Post-work:
- Continue hydrating for 2-3 hours after shift
- More electrolytes—your body is still recovering
- Cool shower, not ice cold (shocks your system)
Products like Built Daily Supply’s hydration formulas fit right into this system. They’re designed to replace exactly what you’re losing.
The warning sign checklist
Antoine makes his guys check each other every hour:
- Skin: Still sweating? (Dry skin = danger)
- Eyes: Focused or glassy?
- Speech: Slurred or confused?
- Color: Pale or flushed? (Either is bad)
- Behavior: Acting normal or “off”?
One check fails, mandatory 15-minute break with water and electrolytes.
Two checks fail, off the site for the day. No arguments.
The cooling hacks
Beyond the basics, Antoine has tricks:
Cold packs to pulse points. Neck, wrists, behind the knees. Not ice directly—wrap it in a cloth.
Wet bandana around the neck. Evaporative cooling. Simple and effective.
Misting fan in the break area. Worth the investment.
Pre-chilled water jugs. Freeze them overnight. They thaw during the day but stay cold.
The bottom line
Heat exhaustion is preventable. Not with heroics—just with systems.
Acclimatize. Time your work right. Hydrate with electrolytes. Check your crew.
Antoine’s been doing it for 20 years without incident. That’s not luck. That’s discipline.