110-degree heat indices prompt warnings, tips of keeping cool

The heat is on

Peggy Ortiz retrieves a customer's dry cleaning at Capital City Cleaners on 104 E. McCarty St. Thursday afternoon. Although this location does not have the steam cleaning or presses, it still is very hot inside the small building, which does not have air conditioning.
Peggy Ortiz retrieves a customer's dry cleaning at Capital City Cleaners on 104 E. McCarty St. Thursday afternoon. Although this location does not have the steam cleaning or presses, it still is very hot inside the small building, which does not have air conditioning.

Peggy Ortiz was sorting through clothes Thursday afternoon and handling customers at Capital City Cleaners, 104 E. McCarty St. in Jefferson City.

At most workplaces, no air conditioning on a 94-degree day would trigger a call to a repairman. No such luck here, where there is no AC. It's just not practical for a small building that has people coming and going constantly, she said.

Still, after three years of working without AC, Ortiz said she's getting used to it. On Thursday, she was hardly breaking a sweat, despite an excessive heat warning. Her techniques to beat the heat: fans, ice water and Popsicles, which are supplied by the business' owner.

"There are some days I'm like, 'Oh, my God, I'm going to die.' But it's really not that bad today."

She also works at Dix Road Cleaners, which is under the same ownership. There, she said, it's often 10 degrees hotter just because of the steamers they use on the clothes.

"I don't feel so bad, because my boyfriend works in concrete, so he's outside there dying for real," she said.

The extreme heat is expected to continue through the weekend, with highs of 99 on Friday and Saturday and 96 on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in St. Louis. The heat index could reach 110.

One way people are beating the heat more this year is through the city's public pools.

Phil Stiles, recreation facilities and special services division director, said several straight days of excessive heat will often lead to a dip in attendance at the city's two pools, Ellis-Porter Riverside Pool and Memorial Park Aquatic Center. But overall, this summer has seen quite an increase over last year.

"The month of June was fantastic," Stiles said. "Attendance at both pools was up about almost 5,000 compared to June of last year."

Plus, Stiles said people seem to be pleased with the renovations at Ellis-Porter, which were completed before the pool season began.

The Memorial Park Aquatic Center is open from noon-7 p.m. daily, and Ellis-Porter Riverside Pool is open from noon-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and noon-7 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

"It's a great place to cool off and also enjoy the warm weather," Stiles said of the pools.

Another way to cool off near the end of July will be the Washington Park Ice Arena, which opens for the season Monday. Stiles said the ice has already been completed, so the department has been using the ice arena for day camps as a way to keep kids cool in the extreme heat.

The Cole County Health Department is recommending people limit their time outdoors, stay hydrated, wear loose-fitting and light-colored clothing, and avoid strenuous work during the warmest parts of the day, said Jaime Young, a nurse with the department.

Young children and the elderly are the most at risk of overheating. If possible, check on those who are vulnerable when the summer heat is highest, she said. Some medications - certain antihistamines and heart medications - can also impair an individual's ability to keep their body cool. Individuals should be aware if their medications can cause that side effect.

There are four designated cooling stations in Jefferson City - Missouri River Regional Library, Salvation Army on Jefferson Street, Clark Senior Center and Capital Mall. Members of the public can go there during the day to cool off.

Jefferson City Police Chief Roger Schroeder said members of his department are prepared to handle the excessive heat.

"Many of our officers were high school and college athletes, and they fully understand and appreciate the importance of hydration and the signs of heat stress," he said.

Schroeder said supervisors have reminded officers to hydrate and be cautious in carrying out their duties.

"We have a highly trained physical fitness person on staff (Sgt. Jason Miles), and he routinely shares his knowledge with all personnel," Schroeder said. "Officers are conditioned to watch out for their partners, and they know the importance of trading duties if one is required to remain in the sun or extreme heat for a length of time."

Schroeder said they also have water in the police department for everyone to consume before and during their shift.

"We've not experienced that problem in the past, but we're always cautious," he said.