Metro Service To Cooling Centers

Posted on: Jul 15, 2011

Kansas City to enter Excessive Heat Warning City opens cooling centers, offers heat safety tips

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for the region, including the City of Kansas City, Mo., beginning Friday, July 15 at 1 p.m. It will be in effect until Tuesday, July 19 at 7 p.m., with the possibility of an extension if high temperatures continue. Temperatures are expected to rise into the mid-90s on Friday, July 15 and will continue to rise into the upper-90s to 100 on Sunday, July 17. Heat indices are forecast to be between 105-110 or higher and may last through the remainder of next week. Residents seeking relief from the heat may go to the City of Kansas City, Mo.'s community centers, many of which are served by Metro bus service. Brush Creek Community Center : Routes 121 - 108 - 47 - 155 3801 Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd., Sunday and Monday: closed, Tuesday and Wednesday: Noon to 9 p.m., Thursday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Garrison Community Center: Route 126 1124 E. 5th St.., Sunday and Monday: closed, Tuesday-Friday: 1 to 9 p.m., Saturday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gregg/Klice Community Center: Route 110 - 108 - 123 - 71 1600 John "Buck" O'Neil Way, Sunday: closed, Monday-Friday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hillcrest Community Center: Route 298 10401 Hillcrest Road, Sunday: closed , Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kansas City North Community Center: Route 133 3930 N.E. Antioch Road, Sunday: closed, Monday-Thursday: 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday: 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday: 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Line Creek Community Center: Route 136 5940 N.W. Waukomis Drive, Sunday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday-Friday: 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Marlborough Community Center: Route 54 8200 Paseo Blvd., Sunday and Monday: closed, Tuesday and Thursday: Noon to 9 p.m., Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Southeast Community Center: Route 163 4201 E. 63rd St., Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday-Thursday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tony Aguirre Community Center: Route 47 - 123 - 247 2050 W. Pennway Terrace, Sunday: closed, Monday-Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The City's Health Department continues to assist the National Weather Service in determining heat-health notifications. The department also continues to coordinate communications among agencies involved with heat response, such as The Salvation Army and United Way 2-1-1. The department continues to monitor the emergency rooms as well as working the Jackson County Medical Examiner on suspected heat-related cases under investigation. The Health Department recommends that residents check on their neighbors and take precautions to protect themselves from the heat.

Eleven things you can do to protect your health during times of extreme heat:

1. Do not use a fan as your primary source of cooling. If your home does not have air conditioning, please go to a public building every day for several hours.
2. Never leave children, pets or others alone in closed vehicles: within minutes, the temperature inside a car can reach over 140 degrees and this can kill within minutes.
3. If you have to work outside or in a non-air-conditioned workplace, take frequent breaks, rest in the shade or cooler environment, and drink plenty of water.
4. Check on your neighbors, friends and relatives at least twice a day (morning and night).
5. Avoid too much sunshine, and postpone outdoor activities and games.
6. Avoid extreme temperature changes, such as a taking a cool shower immediately after coming inside from hot temperatures.
7. Stay indoors as much as possible during the heat of the day in an air conditioned environment.
8. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to a public building every day for several hours.
9. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, to reduce heat and save money.
10. Conserve electricity not needed to keep you cool.
11. Dress for the weather: wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing; this type of clothing reflects heat and helps maintain normal body temperature. If you have to be outside, cover as much skin as possible to avoid sunburn. Protect your face and head with a wide-brimmed hat.

For more information about heat-related illnesses, visit the CDC's webpage about extreme heat: [url=http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ExtremeHeat/]http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ExtremeHeat/[/url]. Heat information also can be found on the Health Department's web page ([url=http://www.kcmo.org/health]http://www.kcmo.org/health[/url]). For general information on signs and symptoms of heat-related illness, call the 3-1-1 Action Center at 311 or 816-513-1313. For heat information and community resources, call the Health Department's community partner United Way 2-1-1, at 211 or 816-474-5112.