Cooling centers open in the area

Some area communities are opening cooling centers, as this week’s heat indexes are expected to be 100 degrees.

In Poplar Bluff, residents can go to the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library and Butler County Health Department between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to cool off. Both are located on North Main Street.

In Malden, the community center on South Madison is currently opening up for residents to cool off from noon to 9 p.m.

In Qulin, the senior center on Second Street is also available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An excessive heat warning is in effect for the area until 8 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Heat index values of 105 to 115 degrees are expected. Overnight lows of the mid-70s and around 80 will provide little relief, the NWS said.

There is little outside workers can do but be careful and take precautions, according to Kevin Coleman, owner of KK Construction.

Coleman is helping renovate a Vine Street building for the new office of Poplar Bluff Realty and was onsite Monday.

“We’re drinking lots of water and praying for a breeze,” he said.

The American Red Cross has encouraged residents to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses. Heat exhaustion has the potential to lead to heat stroke and even result in death.

There are some safety measures you can take to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke, if you do not have access to air conditioning. This includes wearing light and loose fitting clothing, using fans, opening doors and windows, drinking plenty of fluids, seeking shade and trying not to over exert yourself.

You should seek medical attention if you think you may be suffering from heat exhaustion. Some symptoms of heat exhaustion are headache, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting, tiredness or weakness, clammy skin and fast, weak pulse.

These symptoms are caused by an increase in blood flow to the skin, resulting in a lack of blood flow to other vital organs in the body, according to the American Red Cross.

Heat exhaustion can lead to more serious complications including heat stroke, which can lead to brain damage and death.

Small children, elderly and those otherwise health impaired are more susceptible to possible heat exhaustion. Pets should always have a shaded place to reside as well as access to fresh water.

Never leave any living thing in a locked vehicle. It only takes two minutes in a parked vehicle for the temperature to rise from 80 degrees to 94.3 degrees, according to liveScience.com. Within one hour, the temperature inside of a car parked in the sun climbed to 116 degrees. An average of 37 children in the United States die every year due to being forgotten in hot cars, according to a new study published in the journal “Temperature.”

You should contact 911 immediately if you or someone nearby shows signs of heat exhaustion. Take steps to cool the body with wet towels and move them to a cool shaded place.

Heat-stroke and heat exhaustion go by many names, but no matter what it is called it can be life threatening. An extreme rise in body temperature can result in brain-damage and death. Stay hydrated, look for shade and try to stay cool.

For more information and an updated map of cooling centers in your area go to https://data.mo.gov