The heat is on

Summer became official on June 21 — less than a week ago. The area saw some extreme heat over the hottest Memorial Day weekend since 1977, with the high reaching 100 in Morris, and the start of the Independence Day holiday is looking to return us to that hot and humid trend.
As of press time, Chicago area meteorologists were predicting Chicago’s high temps on Friday to be about 94 degrees, with a “real-feel” temp near 100. Saturday’s on trend to be nearly as hot and humid. It’ll cool down a little by the Fourth of July, if 87 degrees is truly a cooldown.
That’s summer in the Midwest.
Wilmington doesn’t have an official cooling center, but when the heat is on, there are places in town to go to cool off.
The Lions Club, which maintains the civic center at 805 River St., will have the air-conditioned building open this weekend from about 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. as an unofficial cooling center, according to Lion John Persic Jr. There are tables, chairs, restrooms, and room for kids to play (what a great place to build a Lego skyscraper!). The building is handicap-accessible from the back entrance.
The Wilmington Public Library, at 201 S. Kankakee St., also serves as an unofficial cooling center. Visitors to the library can read books, newspapers and magazines, use public access computers, charge their cellphones, connect to a hotspot or explore all that the library has to offer. There are programs for kids and adults, with something going on nearly every day of the week — and if it appears that a crowd has formed, the staff will create some fun.
The library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Director Maria Meachum encourages seniors and residents who don’t have a means of keeping cool to come and visit the library.
Wilmington Island Park District, at 315 N. Water St., has a couple of cool spaces where area residents can do a puzzle, watch television or just relax with a cold glass of water. Membership to the fitness center is not required to use the public spaces. The park facility is open Monday through Thursday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The facility will have limited hours on July 4, from 7 a.m. to noon.
Residents are urged to check on their elderly neighbors during heat waves, and to keep an eye on pets as well.
Extreme heat is defined as summertime temperatures that are much hotter and/or humid than average. While this weekend’s temperatures are not the hottest the city will see over the next few months, those numbers are above average highs, which usually sit in the low 80s this time of year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), extreme heat kills more than 600 people in the United States each year.
“Every year, high temperatures kill more people than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods combined,” said Dr. Robin M. Ikeda, CDC Director of the Office of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injury, and Environmental Health. “You can prevent heat-related deaths. As temperatures rise, stay cool by going to an air conditioned place and wearing light, loose clothing. Stay hydrated by drinking more water than usual and avoiding drinks with alcohol, caffeine, or carbonation. And stay informed by tuning in to heat alerts in your area and watching for [heat-related illness] symptoms.”
Heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, happen when the body is not able to properly cool itself via sweating. When that happens, body temperature rises too quickly for a body to cool itself down, which can ultimately cause damage to the brain and other vital organs.
Those most at risk of developing a heat-related illness are older adults (aged 65 and older), those with chronic medical conditions, those who are obese, outdoor workers, infants and children, those who live in low income households, and outdoor athletes.
Pets are also at risk for heat-related illnesses. Pets should not be left in extreme heat for extended periods of time and should have plenty of water available.