Cooling Centers open across St. Croix County

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Take precautions for yourself, your family, neighbors, pets and livestock during these times of high temperatures and humidity.

St. Croix County Emergency Support Services has compiled a list of locations for those who may not have air conditioning available to them. Many of the locations may be closed on Wednesday, due to the July 4th holiday.

This is one of the hottest weather streaks in years and high temperatures and humidities are expected to continue for a few more days.

Extreme heat warnings remain in effect for several days.

With heat indices possibly reaching 110+ the following community sites are available to all residents as an option for getting out of the intense heat. Residents without cooling systems may visit these designated “cooling centers."

Baldwin Care Center, 400 Cedar St., Baldwin, 715-684-2979; hours 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Baldwin Public Library, 400 Cedar St., Baldwin, 715-684-3813, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; 1-5 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

Deer Park Community Center, 121 Front St., Deer Park, 715-269-5301, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. tuesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday.

Deer Park Public Library, 112 Front St., Deer Park, 715-269-5464, 2-8 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday; 1-6 p.m. Thursday; and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Glenwood City Community Center, 217 West Oak St., Glenwood City, 715-265-7242, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. tuesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday.

Glenwood City Public Library, 127 Pine St., Glenwood City, 715-265-7443, 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

Hammond -Westview Apartments, 1280 Charlotte St., Hammond, 715-796-8811, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday.

Marie Blakeman Community Center, 1320 Wisconsin Street, Hudson, 715-386-8709, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday.

Knights of Columbus Hall, 351 South Arch St., New Richmond, 715-246-6221, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday.

Friday Memorial Library, 155 East 1st St., New Richmond, 715-243-0431, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

Wellhaven Senior Living Apartments, 119 Union Street, River Falls, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tueday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday.

Roberts Park Building, 312 Park St., Roberts, 715-749-3755, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday.

Hazel Mackin Community Library, 311 West Warren, Roberts, 715-749-3849, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondya; 1-8 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday; 1-8 p.m. Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.

Somerset Town Hall, 748 Highway 35, Somerset, 715-247-5354, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday.

Somerset Public Library, 208 Hud St., Somerset, 715-247-8228, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Pioneer Building, 102 S. Main, Woodville, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesady; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday.

Woodville Community Library, 124 Main Street, Woodville, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursady; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Additional heat safety information is available at the St. Croix County Emergency Support Services website at www.sccwi.us/sccess along with the ReadyWisconsin site at http://readywisconsin.wi.gov

In 2011, excessive heat claimed five lives and injured more than 108 people Wisconsin during the July 18-21 heat wave. Several of those were in homes without air conditioning.

Local municipalities in St. Croix County opened up 21 cooling centers during the July/August heat wave.

In 1995 two major killer heat waves affected most of Wisconsin resulting in 154 heat-related deaths and over 300 heat-related illnesses. Summer heat waves have been the biggest weather-related killers in Wisconsin for the past 50 years, far exceeding tornadoes and severe storms. Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States.

To help keep cool this summer, here are some tips to keep safe in hot weather:

1. Never leave children, disabled persons, or pets in a parked car – even briefly. Temperatures in a car can become life threatening within minutes. On an 80-degree day, the temperature inside a car even with the windows cracked slightly can reach 100 degrees in less than 10 minutes! There have been cases where the inside temperature rose 40 degrees! Additional information at: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml

2. Keep your living space cool. Cover windows to keep the sun from shining in. If you don’t have an air conditioner open windows to let air circulate. When it’s hotter than 95 degrees use fans to blow hot air out of the window rather than to blow hot air on your body. Basements or ground floors are often cooler than upper floors.

3. Slow down and limit physical activity. Plan outings or exertion for the early morning or after dark when temperatures are cooler.

Visit us on our website: www.sccwi.us/sccess

4. Drink plenty of water and eat lightly. Don’t wait for thirst, but instead drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avoid alcohol or caffeine and stay away from hot, heavy meals.

5. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Add a hat or umbrella to keep your head cool…and don’t forget sunscreen!

6. Don’t stop taking medication unless your doctor says you should. Take extra care to stay cool and ask your doctor or pharmacist for any special heat advice.

7. Taking a cool shower or bath will cool you down. A shower or bath will actually work faster than an air conditioner. Applying cold wet rags to the neck, head and limbs also cools down the body quickly.

People at higher risk of a heat-related illness include: Older adults; Infants and young children; People with chronic heart or lung problems; People with disabilities; Overweight persons; Those who work outdoors or in hot settings; Users of some medications, especially those taken for mental disorders, movement disorder, allergies, depression, and heart or circulatory problems; people who are isolated that don’t know when or how to cool off – or when to call for help.

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