Denver offering places to cool down amid summer heat
DENVER (KDVR) — Heat advisories are in effect this week as temperatures in Denver weather heat up to the high 90s.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hot temperatures can make a person’s body unable to properly cool itself, which can lead to serious health problems. The CDC recommends knowing how to avoid, spot, and treat heat-related illnesses.
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With the above-average temperatures, Denver is hosting several cooling centers across the city for people who need to cool off.
Heat advisories for Monday, Tuesday
The National Weather Service issued heat advisories for Monday and Tuesday due to hot temperatures and dry conditions.
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The Pinpoint Weather team is expecting a high of 97 degrees Monday and 95 degrees Tuesday.
Monday’s heat advisory lasts from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and includes areas around the Denver metro and west Interstate 25 corridor, which includes areas near Denver, Boulder, Lakewood and Aurora.
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Denver Parks and Recreation will have a designated space in each of the recreation centers for the public to use to cool down during normal business hours during extreme heat events, including Monday and Tuesday. They will have places to sit, restrooms and drinking water, according to a press release from the city.
The city added that Denver Public Library also serves as a place where the public can get relief from the heat.
Additionally, street outreach teams are warning people experiencing homelessness of heat illness and providing referrals to shelters and cooling centers.
“Denver’s network of shelters provides a setting where individuals experiencing homelessness can seek refuge from severe weather while getting connected to case management and other stability services,” the city said in the release. More information on overnight and day shelters can be found on the Department of Housing Stability’s Find Shelter webpage.
Tips to stay cool
The NWS is reminding Coloradans to stay hydrated, find shade or air-conditioned areas, and take frequent breaks from outdoor work and activities.
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The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment offers the following tips to avoid getting sick from the heat:
Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. Air conditioning is the No. 1 way to prevent heat-related illness.
If you do not have air conditioning, visit one of Denver’s cooling stations.
Hydrate: drink more water than you normally would, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Fans don’t prevent heat-related illness in extreme heat: take cool showers or baths to cool down.
Don’t use the stove or oven to cook as it emits heat.
Avoid alcohol or beverages that contain caffeine.
Limit outdoor activity, especially in the middle of the day when the sun is hottest.
Check on neighbors and friends during extreme heat.
Never leave children or pets unattended in a hot car.
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DDPHE recommends staying inside during the heat of the day, but offers these tips if you must be outside during that time:
Wear and reapply sunscreen frequently.
Take regular breaks and pace yourself.
Pay attention to muscle cramping as it is an early sign of heat-related illness
Combat cramping due to heat by drinking more water.
wear loose, lightweight and light colored clothing and a hat.
Keep animals safe from heat
Sighs of a dog suffering from a heat-related illness include heavy panting, excessive drooling, glazed eyes, rapid pulse, unsteadiness, bloody nose, diarrhea, vomitting, Dry, deep red or purple tongue, Hemorrhages in gums or under the skin, and body temperatures over 104 degrees, according to the Humane Society.
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The Humane Society recommends seeking veterinary care as soon as possible, even if the dog appears to be improving. In the meantime, you can provide care with these steps from the Humane Society:
Move the dog to a cool area
Apply cool, not cold, water or soak in a cool bath
Place cool, wet towels over the back of the neck, armpits, paws, ear flaps, groin area
Direct a fan on wet areas to speed evaporative cooling
Offer fresh, cool water if the dog is alert and wants to drink, but do not force it
What to do if you see a child or animal stuck in a hot car
A bill was passed in Colorado in 2017 that protects people who render emergency assistance to an at-risk person or animal locked in a hot car.
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The bill provides immunity from civil and criminal liability, but the person must check all the following steps listed in the bill:
Ensure the vehicle is not a law enforcement vehicle
Have a reasonable belief that the person or animal is in imminent danger of death or suffering serious bodily injury
Verify the vehicle is locked
Make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or operator of the vehicle
Contact a law enforcement or other first responder agency prior to forcibly entering the vehicle and not interfere with the actions of any such responding law enforcement agency
Use no more force than reasonably necessary to enter the locked vehicle
Remain with the at-risk person or animal in a safe location close to the vehicle until law enforcement or other first responder arrives at the scene; except that, if the person rendering assistance has to leave the scene before the owner or operator of the vehicle returns, prior to leaving the scene, the person rendering assistance shall leave a notice on the vehicle with his or her name and contact information and the name and location, if any, of the facility to which he or she took the at-risk person or animal. Also prior to leaving the scene, the person rendering assistance shall contact law enforcement, animal control, or other first responder to provide them with the same information.
DDPHE says if you see a dog in a hot car, you should call 311 or Denver Animal Protection at 720-913-2080.
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