An阳jiang watermelon vendor experiencing heat exhaustion stepped away from his stall, leaving a QR code for autonomous customer payments—an informal adaptation to extreme summer temperatures.

Social Context

Outdoor worker heat protection is mandated by the 2021 High-Temperature Weather Labor Protection Measures: employers must provide shade, hydration, and rest breaks above 35°C. Informal arrangements like QR self-service reflect adaptive coping where formal protections remain unenforced in informal economies.

Safety Tip

Use wearable heat-stress monitors (available via Alibaba Health) to trigger automatic alerts at 38°C core temperature—critical for solo vendors without supervision.