Splash Pads, Box Fans, Sno Cones: Tulsans Soldier Through Extreme Heat

Everybody's talking about it—the heat. It's just plain miserable outside.

We can't beat it, so folks are doing what they can to survive it.

The day starts early for most parents of young children. Now, it starts even earlier, in order to get the kids outside to play and burn off the energy before the heat forces them indoors.

"It's just the mommy in me trying to make sure they don't burst into flames," said Stefanie Olson, mom to a 2- and a 6-year-old. "They don't seem to care."

People are changing their routines because of the summer scorcher.

Jim Ball said he runs six to eight miles at a time.

"I stop at every water stop repeatedly, and hydrate dramatically before I run and after because if I don't, in for a lot of problems."

The relentless weather may be turning us into nocturnal creatures.

Some construction workers started work at 3:30 a.m. Monday. They wrap up before the temperature soars into the triple digits, but it only dipped into the 90s Sunday night.

Business is good for those who carry fans and AC window units.

Greg Welborn, owner of Best Hardware, said, "It's busy in the morning then after that it starts going down. By 3 o'clock people aren't out."

The luxury of dining al fresco isn't appealing these days, however some habits are hard to shake.

There was no one on the patio at Brookside By Day, but…

"You'd be shocked at the number of people who are still drinking hot coffee," said waiter Jeb Perry.

EMSA issued its 18th heat alert for the summer and they cannot stress enough that you need to drink plenty of water, take lots of breaks, and stay inside when you can. And our meteorologists will tell you that that number is only expected to go higher throughout the week.