Pool attendance jumps as temperatures climb
NEWS-SUN STAFF REPORT July 19, 2011 10:28PM
Campers and staff at Camp Henry Horner in Ingleside beat the heat in Wooster Lake. Camper Brianna Fidman, 8, and counselor Hayley Glatter, both of Buffalo Grove, slide off the Iceberg, a huge inflatable, into the lake. | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media
Heat-related illnesses
Symptoms of heat exhaustion, which can be caused by spending too much time in the heat, include pale and clammy skin, heavy perspiration, dizziness, weakness, headache or cramps, nausea and fainting. Symptoms of heat stroke, which can be caused by over-exposure to direct sunlight, are high body temperature, skin that is red and dry, rapid pulse and loss of consciousness. Heat stroke can lead to death if untreated.
Never leave an infant, elderly or disabled person, or even a pet in a parked car with the windows closed.
Source: Lake County Health Department
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Updated: July 20, 2011 2:32AM
The excessive heat watch continues today and Thursday, with possible heat indexes of 105 to 110 degrees making some people stay in their homes while others head out to the area pools and beaches.
For the second day in a row, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency declared Tuesday an air pollution action day, which means ozone or particulate matter pollution are at levels that could be unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as people with pulmonary or respiratory diseases such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor activity.
According to the National Weather Service, the high temperature for today could be 96 and tomorrow is forecast to hit 95 degrees. When humidity is added, the heat index could rise to 105 top 110.
People have been trying to stay cool in traditional ways.
At the Antioch Aquatic center, they normally see attendance increase when the temperature goes over 85 degrees.
“We got about a 20 percent increase in attendance and people tend to stay longer,” said Mike Kudla, manager. They also have more people taking advantage of the 4 to 8 p.m., $2 rate. “Some people like to take a dip after dinner,” he said.
The Esper A. Petersen Foundation Family Aquatic center in Grayslake also saw an increase.
“We’ve been packed,” said John Eldridge, but he also heard of some people “who won’t leave their houses.”
Samantha Kajfez, the manager at Waukegan’s Howard Ganster Pool at Belvidere Park, said Tuesday, “It’s been pretty busy and a lot of kids tend to forget the pool rules.”
“We want to protect kids and keep everyone safe,” she said. She also reminds the kids to drink plenty of water. “Even though you are in a pool, you need to keep hydrated.”
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