Got hired to work a wood fire range station and had to nope out of it after 2 hours. Started getting dizzy, vision got blurry, heart pounding, etc, it wasn't good.
I want to give it another shot but I don't think I'll get different results because of the medication I'm on (a diuretic and beta blockers)
And I'm really embarrassed, thanks for letting me vent to you guys
by snowocean84
29 Comments
nothing to be embarrassed about. Medical issues are medical issues and you gave it your best go! Good shit my guy
Don’t be embarrassed, it’s always a smart move to get out of the kitchen if you can’t stand the heat. Especially when it looks so easy to pass out and fall into.
Working wood fire is next level. The heat is insane and if you don’t keep hydrated you’re fucked.
Did you…drink water?
Something I’ve learned from working a char broiler and a wood burning grill is that any distance you can give yourself from that heat will help, even if it’s just a few inches. Without consideration, you can end up standing right in front of it taking the full heat for long periods of time, but if you aren’t manipulating something taking even just a step back can grant more relief than you might think. Across a shift those small reliefs add up so to speak.
Need some welding gloves or something. Radiant heat is super bad for the body.
People think we wear whites and work in a quite, sterile environment. Little do they know it’s more like the gates of hell.
When working in high-heat environments I’ve always relied on an ice cold quart of water with an electrolyte packet or salt/lemon juice added.
Gotta keep the body cool while replenishing all that salt you’re sweating out.
Also in a lull find any reason to stand in the walk-in fridge or freezer for a few seconds.
You need sodium before work
I only did it for about 6 months and my arm hair never grew back the same😂
as someone also on a diuretic and a beta blocker, yeah salad station is more my speed but also live by the water die by the water, be sure you’re re-hydrating more than seems reasonable(I drink two or three gallons of water in a ten hour shift when I cover flat top)
also electrolytes are extremely useful, the diuretic I take is potassium sparing so I need to be careful not to overdo it but like smartwater or gatorade or whatever is genuinely a useful thing
Thats way too hot of a station, get longer thongs.
I got heat stroke working a grill outside in July. It was 100 degrees outside and they made me wear pants and a long sleeve.
I’ve had issues in extreme heat ever since.
Don’t kill yourself for a job.
It’s not for everyone, man. I actually have a very close close friend that got ridiculous burns from working a similar station at an off-site party. He didn’t realize he was very slowly being cooked all day.
TIL beta blockers can cause heat intolerance.
No wonder Im only good for about an hour in the Florida sun before I have to go in to cool down
Looking at that shot, you may as well be shoveling coal into the Titanic. That’s a tough gig
Keep a towel on a water/ice bucket and put it around your neck, wet your forearms with cold water, electrolytes, try keeping the baskets and the amber coals on the back to cope with less direct heat, you will also get more used to it with time…
I’ve had many strong guys from our brick and morter tap out on our food truck- summer in the desert is no joke and a 120° environment can easily put you in the hospital. We mitigate with break rotation, slush ice machine, and electrolyte drinks but still- heat is hard and not everyone can do it. Don’t feel defeated just know you learned a limit
Why feel embarrassed? Never compare yourself with others. Do what you can and excel at that and never focus on the things you were not blessed with. Accept your weaknesses to improve your strengths.
Hey man, I used to rock a live grill and those things are BRUTAL. You gotta be real careful in that heat, and if you’re on diuretics, it can get extremely dangerous for you, very quickly.
If you gotta bow out, don’t feel bad about it. You stepped up and it’s just not a thing, is what it is.
Bro I’m on day 2 at a new job. I have several
Herniations in my back, it’s absolutely brutal on me . I been cooking since 98 . Went to school
And all that . Speak with your employer and see if they can help out . I’m getting help from other employees currently and the chef and sous. Try another station
I can’t reply to everyone but just want to say thank you for all your kind words, it helped break up the little pity party I was holding for myself, and the chef has offered me an 8am prep shift for tomorrow if I’m feeling up to it.
Don’t be too ashamed, or feel too badly, I guarantee those guys have all worked that station and know how bad it is, some have probably had to tap out themselves, all of them have seen other people tap out.
Worked one briefly at a smokehouse; I swear it’s like working underwater, you gotta hold your breath almost because there’s no oxygen to be had over hungry coals like that in an enclosed space.
Dont be embarrassed heat is a serious danger
I worked expo at on open kitchen wood fired grill for a year and even with the extra five feet of space it was draining the people who do it are warriors.
I worked at a restaurant with a big wood fire grill right in the middle and the guy who worked had been doing it for 22 years. That man was a badass is all i can say because I would cook up some scrap cuttings sometimes before shift and could barely stand it, and that was just when the fire started going. I can’t imagine working that all night
You’re not getting paid enough to do that.
I’ve seen people that have worked grills like that for years get heatstroke from them, it happens. Don’t be embarrassed, but if you try again just come better prepared with drinks/whatever might help you not pass out. Taking care of yourself is important.
I worked a open fire pit for 1.5yrs..lots of fluids needed constantly. Harsh in the summer but I did enjoy it, I did get cramps often (not good) The restaurant was killed by greedy landlords over covid