CLEVELAND -- Trying to beat the sweaty summer sizzle? The city of Cleveland has activated its heat preparedness plan to offer some relief as the mercury approaches 100 degrees.
Cleveland residents can beat the heat at the following 15 designated recreation centers from noon - 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday.
- Alta House: 12510 Mayfield Rd.
- Clark: 5706 Clark Ave.
- Collinwood: 16300 Lakeshore
- Corey: 10510 Drexel
- Earle B. Turner: 11300 Miles Ave.
- Estabrook: 4125 Fulton
- Fairfax: 2335 E. 82nd
- Gunning Park: 16700 Puritas Ave.
- Kenneth L. Johnson: 9206 Woodland Ave.
- John F. Kennedy: 17300 Harvard Ave.
- Stella Walsh: 7345 Broadway
- Sterling: 1380 E. 32nd
- Thurgood Marshall: 8611 Hough Ave.
- Zelma Watson George: 3155 MLK
- Michael Zone: 6301 Lorain Ave.
Outdoor city pools are open from noon - 8 p.m.
Many other Northeast Ohio communities have designated "Cooling Centers." Click here for a complete list of 61 such centers.
Photos: Cooling off at Wildwater Kingdom
Cleveland seniors will also receive a message through the city's Wide Area Rapid Notification (WARN) system advising them on how to keep cool in the heat.
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Additional tips when dealing with extreme heat from the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Emergency Management Agency:
Drink cool (not icy) fluids
- Active people should drink two-four glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool, non-alcoholic fluids every hour. Drinking water is best.
- Do not take salt tablets without a physician's advice.
- Avoid beverages that contain alcohol or caffeine because they can add to dehydration and increase the effects of heat illness.
Monitor or limit outdoor activities
- Young children may become preoccupied with outdoor play and not realize they are overheated. Adults should mandate frequent breaks and bring children indoors to cool down and have cool drinks.
- Children or adolescents involved in team sports should be closely monitored for signs of heat stress. Consideration should be given to modifying practice or games during the hottest parts of the day.
Know how to treat heat exhaustion
- Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea and fainting.
- People experiencing these symptoms should be moved to a shady or air-conditioned area. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet clothes or towels.
- Have the affected person sip on a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. If the person refuses water, vomits or loses consciousness, call 911 or the local emergency number.
Know how to treat heat stroke
Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Call 911 immediately. Symptoms include a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher, red, hot and dry skin with no sweating, rapid pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, unconsciousness and gray skin color.
- Before medical help arrives, begin cooling the person by any means possible, such as spraying the person with water from a garden hose or by placing them in a cool tub of water.
Never leave children or pets in vehicles
- Even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures quickly. Even if the windows are cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes.
- Children or animals left inside a vehicle is a risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death.
- When traveling with children (even routine drives), remember to remind yourself that a child is in the car by placing bags, phones or other items you will take with you in the back seat. This will force you to turn around before exiting the car.
- When leaving your vehicle, check the front and back seats to make sure no sleeping children (or pets) are left in the car.