Ice cream vendors are finding ways to cope with increasingly intense and prolonged heatwaves, a challenge that echoes past extreme weather events but is now of a different magnitude. Gus, a vendor who has been selling ice cream for years, noted that current heat conditions are hotter and more consistent than those experienced in 1976, lasting for weeks rather than isolated days.
Gus described the community and the children he serves as "amazing" and "very, very polite," crediting parents for their children's respectful demeanor. He himself employs methods to stay cool, such as placing a wet flannel on his head and drinking plenty of water, though he also recommends a cup of tea. "We're just soldiers and we're trying to do the best that we can," he stated, emphasizing the commitment to serving customers while managing the heat.
His family has a long history in the ice cream business, with an ice cream parlour established in 1959. Gus regularly encounters adults who recall buying ice cream from him as children and now bring their own families. This generational connection highlights the enduring presence of such businesses in communities. The need to adapt to severe weather conditions is becoming a recurring aspect of their work, requiring resilience and practical strategies to continue operations.