Beat the heat at spray parks and air-conditioned cool spots

With temperatures expected to soar into triple digits in the coming days, the Stanislaus Office of Emergency Services and the city of Turlock are reminding residents to head for cool zones and spray parks.

“If you plan to be outdoors, please be sure to protect yourself from the sun and heat,” Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth said. “During this drought’s extreme heat conditions, it’s our city’s priority to make sure all our residents know that there are places throughout Turlock to find relief from the heat.”

Temperatures are expected to stay in or near the triple digits through the weekend. Cool zones are air-conditioned buildings open to the public.

“When the weather heats up, it’s a great reminder for people to have a plan for dealing with the heat,” said David Jones, spokesman for the Stanislaus OES. “On these days where we get this intense Valley heat, it’s good to check on your neighbors who might be elderly or have health issues to make sure they’re doing OK.”

In Turlock, designated cool zones are at:

▪ Turlock Homeless Assistance Ministry, 408 S. First St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, 209-656-1033

▪ Turlock library, 550 Minaret Ave., 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, closed Fridays and Sundays, 209-664-8100

▪ Broadway Spray Park, 501 N. Broadway, spraying daily 1 to 7 p.m.

▪ Columbia Spray Park, 595 High St., spraying daily 1 to 7 p.m.

Cool zones in other areas of Stanislaus County include:

▪ Ceres Community Center, 2701 Fourth St., open 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

▪ Salvation Army Social Services & Church, 625 I St., Modesto, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

▪ Oakdale library, 151 S. First Ave., open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday

A complete list of cooling zones is available at the Stan Emergency website.

The city and Stanislaus OES also offer tips to help stay heat-safe:

▪ Stay out of the sun as much as possible. To protect against sunburn, wear sunscreen, a hat and loose-fitting clothing covering as much skin as possible.

▪ Drink water to stay hydrated even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.

▪ Avoid strenuous activity in peak sun hours, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

▪ Never leave kids, seniors or pets in a parked car on hot days.

▪ Check on neighbors, especially seniors or those with special needs.

There are two serious heat-related illnesses with very different symptoms to watch for, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, headache, weak pulse, dizziness, fainting, nausea and cold clammy skin. Body temperature will seem normal.

Heatstroke can be recognized by a lack of sweating with elevated body temperature. Sufferers may have flushed, hot, dry skin; weak or rapid pulse; shallow breathing; throbbing headache; nausea; confusion; and even unconsciousness.

The city is pledging to keep its water parks spraying despite a citywide reduction in water use. It also asks residents to be tolerant of off-schedule watering necessary to save drought-stressed trees and cover the large turf acreage.

The iffy production of two shallow wells used for landscape watering in the northeast portion of the city have called for emergency measures, said Allison Van Guilder, director of Turlock Parks, Recreation and Facilities. The wells failed as July started but were back in service as of July 22.

“With the nonpotable wells down, these trees and plantings have been stressed to the brink. We are doing our best to save them and get these trees and shrubs stable, but with the ongoing difficulties with these wells, we are having to water outside of the prescribed times,” Van Guilder said, noting the city has been deluged by calls from residents complaining about dried-up landscaping and off-schedule watering.

“We appreciate when residents notify us of broken or malfunctioning sprinklers,” said Van Guilder. She said the city has tens of thousands of sprinkler heads and drip emitters, serviced while employees are on duty and not always during the regular watering times.

This story was originally published July 27, 2015 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Beat the heat at spray parks and air-conditioned cool spots."