Several organizations and businesses in the Springfield-area have opened their doors to help folks escape the heat.
What We Know: With temperatures on the rise in the Ozarks, the Springfield-Greene County Library District and other organizations in the area have opened their doors as cooling centers for those needing relief from the excessive heat.
All ten branches of Springfield-Greene County Library District are open to the public during normal business hours, offering air-conditioned spaces in addition to their books, programs, and other activities.
The Springfield-Greene County Park Board has the lobbies of several of its facilities open as cooling centers whenever the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory. The Chesterfield Family Center, Dan Kinney Family Center and Doling Family Center have their lobbies open this week.
SeniorAge is another organization opening its centers as safe, air-conditioned spaces for older adults to get relief. SeniorAge’s 27 senior centers across 17 counties will be open.
What It Means: Local officials and the National Weather Service encourages anyone who begins experiencing symptoms of heatstroke to move into an air-conditioned building as soon as possible and stay hydrated during periods of excessive heat.
Being aware of these symptoms and locating the nearest cooling center can be life-saving.
You can find the nearest cooling center at health.springfieldmo.gov/2948/Heat-Related-Illness.
(Image courtesy of the Springfield-Greene County Library District)