Spring is a popular time of year. The temperatures are rising and everything is starting to bloom. The downside to all this is that spring often comes with a lot of rain. Letter carriers have to deal with this rain on a regular basis. It can seem impossible to keep the mail, and yourself, dry.
While there’s no foolproof method to keeping dry in the rain, there are things you can do that will help.
Dress for the weather. This is by far your best defense against the rain. Your first line of defense should be a high quality rain coat. This can be a parka, a jacket, a coat…whatever it is you need to keep dry. If you want to stay as a dry as possible, go for waterproof over water resistant. When choosing one make sure you read the details, as you’ll want a coat that is breathable to prevent you from getting too warm. To keep properly dry you’ll also want to invest in some waterproof pants. These can be worn over your normal pants to keep your legs nice and dry.
And don’t forget about your feet. It’s hard to be comfortable when your feet are soaked through. There’s a few options to choose from here. You may decide to go for rubber boots, a classic item to help you stay dry. If you love your current postal shoes though, you may instead invest in rubber overshoes to fit over your comfortable work shoes. For a final line of defense, go for some waterproof socks in case water manages to get past your shoes.
You may also choose to invest in a hat or disposable raincoats for unexpected showers. These are also great ways to keep dry on the job.
Protect the mail. Yes, some of the mail is going to get wet. This is inevitable. This doesn’t mean you should disregard the mail completely. Make the effort to keep the mail you are delivering as dry as possible. This can be particularly difficult if you have a walking route. You might choose to attempt using an umbrella while on your route, but this can be challenging while on the job. Keep the flap on your satchel over the mail as you walk, and if you’re carrying any keep it against your chest to keep it as dry as possible. This has limited effectiveness, but it is better than nothing.
One of the most efficient ways to keep mail dry is to invest in a postal cape. It can be placed over the rest of your uniform, and since it has an opening in the front you will be able to hold the mail under it while you walk. This will keep the mail as dry as possible until you deliver it.
Have a positive attitude. Decide you don’t care if it rains. Instead, enjoy when it rains. Find humor in the rain. It may surprise you just how much a positive attitude can change how you feel about something unpleasant. You chose this profession knowing you’d have to deliver in the rain, so try and accept it and make the best of the situation.
Check out MyPostalUniforms.com for our selection of postal items that will help you keep dry in the rain.
