Beating The Heat

Miriam Mendoza, left, and her brother, Irving Mendoza, rear, pour water over their brother Axel Mendoza's head as they play on June 26, 2006, in Seattle. The children were playing outside the mini market where their mother works as a way to keep cool in the heat. The National Weather Service said Washington recorded four record-breaking highs on Monday, two on each side of the state.

Anthony Gonzalez goes head-over-heels into the pool at Dr. Powers Park in Tracy, Calif., as he tries to beat the midday heat on June 26, 2006. Temperatures surpassed 100 degrees.

Latzy Bliss, front, relaxes and cools off in Henderson Bay, near Purdy, Wash., on June 26, 2006. Smog warnings were issued in Seattle and Spokane as a record-setting heat wave sent temperatures into triple digits. At least three people died while trying to beat the heat in lakes and rivers.

Celina Twiggs, 3, wears a life vest and waits for her mother before going into the water at Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah, Wash., on June 26, 2006. Much of Oregon and southwest and southeast Washington is expecting record heat again on Tuesday. An excessive heat advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Jim Lee sprays a cooling mist of water over Radar, a military macaw held by his girlfriend, Heathyr Ford, Monday, June 26, 2006, in Selah, Wash. Kayleigh, a yellow-and-gold macaw perches on Jim's shoulder. Though the temperature reached 100 degrees Monday, the couple wanted to take the birds out on one of their regular walks. Because of the heat and lack of humidity, the periodic cool-downs were necessary.

Michael Antonsen, 17, cools off in a Portland, Ore., fountain on June 26, 2006. A heat wave has been melting much of the state for the past three days. Officials have urged people to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sunshine, check up on elderly relatives and neighbors and leave plenty of water available for pets.

Brian Requena beats the triple-digit heat on June 26, 2006, by running through a sprinkler in Salem, Ore.

Brittany Rush, left, and Ellie Eaton use a fountain to cool off during record-high temperatures in Portland, Ore., on June 26, 2006. Over the weekend, five people drowned in the Portland and Salem area rivers and lakes.

A one-month-old foal at the Coldwater Creek Stables in Jackson, Mo., is hosed down for his first bath on June 22, 2006. The bath helped keep the young cool as temperatures soared into the 90s.

Shelly Pereira stops in front of a huge fan to cool off during the Portuguese Festival in Hopeton, Calif., Saturday, June 24, 2006, as temperatures reached in the triple digits.

Elizabeth Monsef, 6, cools off by running through the fountains at Town Plaza Park in Los Gatos, Calif., on June 22, 2006. Temperatures in the areas reached the high 90s.

Toby Mayle, 8, of Cincinnati, slides at Duke University baseball camp in Durham, N.C., on June 21, 2006, in an effort to beat the heat, as temperatures rose past 100 degrees.