Denver opens cooling centers during potentially dangerous heat wave

The City of Denver is responding to the extreme heat wave by offering a place for people to cool off during the hottest hours of the day. CBS Colorado First Alert Meteorologists say the hottest period for Denver will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday with highs near 100 degrees.

Denver Parks and Recreation will open all operating recreation centers as daytime cooling centers during regular business hours for people who need a place to cool down. Each center will have a designated area for cooling, with access to drinking water, restrooms, and a place to sit. 

The city is also opening the shelter at 2601 W. 7th Ave. on Sunday afternoon, July 14 from 4 p.m.- 8 p.m. as another cooling center location. 

Denver Public Library locations will also be available to the public as a cooler indoor place to take shelter from the heat. 

Additional Information from the City of Denver:

High temperatures can cause illness, as excessive heat can increase your body's core temperature. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a heat illness happens when your body is unable to dissipate heat effectively. Personal factors, like age, obesity, dehydration, heart disease, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use can all play a role in your body's ability to cool off during hot weather. Those who are at the highest risk for heat-related illness include people 65 and older, children younger than two, and people with chronic diseases or mental illness. 

With these extremely hot temperatures, the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment offers these tips to prevent heat-related illness: 

·     Stay inside in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. Air conditioning is the number one way to protect yourself against heat-related illness. If your home is not air-conditioned, visit one of Denver's cooling center

·     Drink more water than usual and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink 

·     Fans will not prevent heat-related illness in extreme heat, instead take cool showers or baths to cool down  

·     Don't use the stove or oven to cook—it will make you and your house hotter 

·     Don't drink alcohol or beverages that contain caffeine 

·     Limit your outdoor activity, especially during the middle of the day when the sun is hottest 

If you must be outside during the heat of the day, follow these tips:  

·     Wear and frequently reapply sunscreen  

·     Pace your activity and rest often 

·     Pay attention to muscle cramping, which may be an early sign of heat-related illness. To combat cramping and heat-related illnesses, drink more water than usual  

·     Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and a hat  

Heat illness, including heat stroke, can be dangerous and even fatal if not treated appropriately. Symptoms of heat-related illness can include red or itchy skin, muscle pain or cramps, shallow breathing, elevated body temperature, a weak but quick pulse, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea, dizziness or fainting. 

During periods of extreme heat, check on friends and neighbors to be sure they are safe and remember to never leave children unattended in a hot car. 

Street outreach teams are cautioning persons experiencing unsheltered 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. For more information on overnight and day shelters for individuals and families, visit the Department of Housing Stability's Find Shelter webpage. 

Denver Parks and Recreation Operations Staff and Park Rangers will be actively working in Denver Parks during the heatwave to assist anyone in heat distress. Staff will have water and Gatorade available for those who need to rehydrate.

Keep animals safe from the heat  

Denver Animal Protection (DAP) reminds residents to never leave their pets alone in vehicles. 

If you suspect an animal is suffering heatstroke:  

·     Move the animal to shade or a cooler area

·     Cool the pet down with water or ice packs on the stomach only

·     Offer cool drinking water, but do not force-feed it

·     Don't dunk the pet in water. This can hurt them even more when their temperature regulation is impaired. 

·     Don't cover, crate, or confine the animal

·     Even if your pet responds to cooling treatments, it's critical your pet sees an emergency veterinarian to see if it has suffered irreversible damage

If you see a dog in a hot car, immediately call 311 or Denver Animal Protection, 720-913-2080. You should also familiarize yourself with the city's Good Samaritan law which provides legal immunity to people who break a car window to save an animal. However, to ensure immunity: 

·     You must believe the animal is in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury

·     The vehicle must be locked

·     You must make a 'reasonable effort' to find the vehicle's owner

·     You must contact the Denver Police Department, Denver Fire or DAP before entering the vehicle 

·     You cannot use more force than necessary to free the animal

·     If you break a window, you must remain with the animal and on scene until police or DAP officers arrive