City of Charleston opening cooling centers, pools for excessive heat this weekend

​CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS/WVAH) — The city of Charleston is opening its parks and recreation facilities this weekend for residents to escape the heat.

The Kanawha City Community Center (3511 Venable Ave.), Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center (314 Donnally St.) and North Charleston Community Center (2009 Seventh Ave.) will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, July 19, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 20, a news release from the city said.

The Roosevelt Neighborhood Center (502 Ruffner Ave.) will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, July 19.

Multiple counties in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio are under an excessive heat warning from noon Friday to 8 p.m. Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. The heat index is expected to be between 105 and 110, with temperatures in the 90s.

The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is offering tips to keep cool to prevent heat-related illnesses:

* Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothes if outside.

* Stay indoors as much as possible with an air-conditioned space.

* If you have to work outside, limit work to times when it’s coolest, such as in the mornings or evenings.

* Wear sunscreen.

* Avoid leaving children or pets in cars.

* Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.

* Check on relatives and neighbors.

In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends taking frequent rest breaks in shaded areas or inside an air-conditioned building.

Original Article - by ANNA MOORE| July 18, 2019, WCHSTV News at: https://bit.ly/2YcW4C8