Texas prisons enduring long summer days

RIVERSIDE, Texas, July 4 (UPI) -- Workers and inmates alike in Texas prisons say they are struggling to endure long summer days with sweltering temperatures.

The Houston Chronicle reported Friday that only 19 of the 112 prisons in Texas have air-conditioning available and prison officials typically reserve comfortably cooled quarters for mentally ill or sick inmates.

Heat indexes of more than 100 degrees can occur at the state prisons, leaving prisoners facing long sweaty days.

"The bricks heat up, the bars heat up," said Kevin Kreyssig, an inmate serving a 40-year-sentence. "It gets up to 105, 108. We spill water on the floor, lie down and point our little fans straight on us... It doesn't cool down enough to sleep till 3 a.m."

Ellis Unit Warden Eileen Kennedy said the hot conditions mean prison guards have to be trained to recognize the signs of heat-induced illnesses.

"It's a lot of common sense," he told the Chronicle of prison officials' response to hot weather.