YORK, Pa. — It’s another day in the life of a post office mail carrier.
While people bundled up in their homes, Michael Barley continued his normal mail route while braving the elements.
“Neither rain, nor sleet, nor dark of night," said Barley, who works at the East York Post Office. "Every time somebody greets me, that’s the first thing they say.”
On Wednesday, temperatures were hanging in the low 20s across central Pennsylvania, but gusting winds made the temperature feel even lower.
Barley said he and other mail carriers took extra steps to protect themselves from the cold.
“I have probably four layers on the top; two or three layers on the bottom," said Barley. "We just try and stay as warm as we can by covering our head and feet.”
Experts say anyone who plans to be outside in the frigid weather has to be prepared. They encourage people to wear enough layers to cover their whole body to be protected from threats like frostbite.
“That’s covering as much of your body as you can and having that top layer of clothing that keeps you dry as well as deflects the wind," said Dan Bledsoe, the EMS medical director for UPMC. “You’ve got to be ready for whatever comes your way.”
Regardless of the weather outside, Barley said he remains committed to his duties.
“It becomes second nature during the wintertime," he told FOX43.
People can also protect mail carriers in harsh winter conditions by clearing all snow and ice from their driveways and sidewalks.