The heat is on!

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PRINCETON – Muggy and hot are the words meteorologist Anthony Peoples has used to describe the next two weeks for Bureau County.

On Wednesday, Peoples with WQAD NewsChannel 8 said this kind of weather is dangerous for people who have to work or be outdoors for any extended period of time. When the Quad Cities area experiences heat and humidity like what’s been happening lately, it’s wise to check on the elderly and pets that have to be outdoors, he said.

“It’s definitely going to feel like summer with highs in the 80s and 90s for much of the next two weeks,” Peoples said. “When you factor in the humidity, it’s going to feel more like the 90s and low-100s.”

In Princeton, Superintendent of Water Mike Eggers recorded a high temperature of 95 degrees on Monday and 97 degrees on Tuesday. One year ago, those high temperatures were both recorded at 82.

The Bureau County Senior Center, located at 16 W. Marion St. in Princeton, is one local site that has been designated as a cooling center.

Denise Ihrig, director of the Bureau County Senior Center, said any senior citizen, ages 60 years or older, can come into the center to watch some television, read books, do puzzles or games, and simply relax and get out of the heat. There’s always refreshments to enjoy. The senior center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

As another service, staff at the senior center will also call on seniors in their homes to make sure they are doing well, Ihrig said. Families can also contact the center if they need help checking on their elderly family members. The senior center also has fans available for use during the summer months for Bureau County senior citizens.

Joy Jaraczewski, health educator with the Bureau/Putnam County Health Department, said there are some common sense precautions people can take to protect themselves and their loved ones against the heat.

For instance, people should definitely increase their intake of fluids, especially water, during these hot days. However, people should avoid beverages that contain caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar because those drinks can actually cause a person to lose more body fluid, she said.

People should also wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing during the hot summer days. Avoid the direct sunlight and use sunscreen with a sun protection factor greater than 15, Jaraczewski said.

“The best thing to do is to try to stay in air-conditioned places as much as possible, reduce activity outdoors and stay out of the extreme heat,” Jaraczewski said.

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