KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- The summer’s hottest temperatures are upon us, and Fact Finder learned it's a serious matter.

While many people can escape the heat when they're at home or at work, road crews at MoDOT sweat it out under the sun, but they're not entirely unprepared.

"We make sure all of our employees are trained in first aid and also CPR so that they can recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses. Whether it's heat cramps or heat exhaustion, " said Phil Sandifer, MoDOT area engineer.

In order to fight the heat, MoDOT road crews receive more breaks per shift, they're encouraged to drink lots of water, and employees are rotated from the most strenuous jobs to the least strenuous.

These tactics have proven to be effective for road crews this season as few heat-related incidents have been reported.