With temperatures set to flirt with record highs all week, the city of Kent is opening up a pair of cooling centers to help resident beat the heat.
Both Kent Commons and the Senior Activity Center will be air conditioned and open to residents looking for a way to cool down as the mercury climbs past 90 degrees this week.
The Senior Center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday and 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday. The Kent Commons will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
The Kent Regional Library also has been declared a cooling center by King County.
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the area through 6 p.m. Thursday with hot and humid conditions expected to settle in with little to no relief in sight, even at night.
In addition to the heat, an air stagnation advisory is also in effect due to the hot, humid conditions.
The National Weather Service is predicting highs reaching into the 90s Tuesday and Thursday have predicted an afternoon temperature of 102 for Wednesday with neither rain nor even cloud cover to shield the area from the sun.
But this week, even the sun going down might not bring that much of a reprieve as the nights are predicted to be hot as well with low temperatures only dropping into the high 60s in the overnight hours.
The combination of the heat and high humidity expected with it could create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely. Residents are advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air conditioned rooms if possible and to stay out of the sun.
According to Captain Kyle Ohashi of the Kent Fire Department the two main heat-related issues are heat exhaustion and the more dangerous heat stroke.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include a run down, fatigued feeling, headaches, muscle cramps, nausea and dizziness.
It is caused by a combination of high temperatures and a lack of hydration or drinking the wrong things like beer, soda or other caffeinated beverages.
“Getting the fluids is good,” Ohsahi said, adding “but alcohol leeches fluids out of your body, as do sodas.
“In fact, water is probably best of all,” he said. “If you get to the point you’re thirsty, you’re not keeping up.”
Heat stroke can be a life-threatening emergency that could cause a person to have seizures or lose consciousness.
One of the main signs of heat stroke is when a person stops sweating, meaning the body’s cooling mechanism is over burdened. A lack of urination is also a sign that the body is running low on fluids.
“You lose your main avenue of heat release,” Ohashi said.
If you or someone you know shows signs of heat stroke, call 9-1-1 and get the person out of the heat. Apply a cool (not cold; cold water can cause more damage because of the violent swing in temperatures), wet cloth to the neck, underarms and groin area.
Ohashi also said the fire danger remains high because of the hot, dry conditions and the small amount of rain that fell Saturday did nothing to help the matter.
“Things are bone dry out there,” he said, reminding people to be careful with any lit materials.
Ohashi said the best thing to remember when trying to survive the heat is to use common sense and to stay hydrated.
“If you don’t need to be out in it, don’t” he said.
COOLING CENTERS
The city of Kent has opened two cooling centers to help residents beat the heat:
The Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St. The building includes a deli, cafe and coffee bar and water and other beverages will be available free of charge. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday and 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
The Kent Commons, 525 4th Ave. N. The building has an air-conditioned room dedicated to helping residents stay cool. Hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
The Kent Regional Library, 212 2nd Ave. N., has also been dedicated as a cooling center by the county. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
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