City of El Paso opens cooling centers as high temperatures hit Borderland

Times staff report
Updated ·2 min read

Wednesday marks the first day of summer, and with temperatures now climbing past 100 degrees, the city of El Paso and the Office of Emergency Management have activated the community’s cooling centers.

The centers, which opened Saturday, will help residents, especially senior citizens, stay cool and avoid heat-related illnesses as temperatures have risen in the Borderland, officials said in a news release.

The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures above 100 degrees all week in the Sun City.

The cooling centers provide an indoor, air-conditioned environment for residents to visit and cool down throughout the day. They are a collaboration between the El Paso Office of Emergency Management, the city of El Paso Parks and Recreation Department, the public libraries and the Extreme Weather Task Force.

Fans are sold at stores on El Paso Street in Downtown El Paso on Tuesday.
Fans are sold at stores on El Paso Street in Downtown El Paso on Tuesday.

The following free cooling centers are available Sunday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Friday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.:

· Galatzan Recreation Center, 650 Wallenberg Drive

· Marty Robbins Recreation Center, 11620 Vista Del Sol Drive

· Valle Bajo Community Center, 7380 Alameda Ave.

·  Nations Tobin Sports Center, 8831 Railroad Drive

· Chalio Acosta Sports Center, 4321 Delta Drive

More: Donate a fan to help save your neighbor from summer heat in El Paso

Residents also can visit any of the city’s public libraries, which are open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday from 1 to 6 p.m.:

· Armijo Library, 620 E. 7th Ave.

· Clardy Fox, 5515 Robert Alva Ave.

· Esperanza Moreno, 12480 Pebble Hills Blvd.

· Irving Schwartz, 1865 Dean Martin Drive

· Jose Cisneros/Cielo Vista, 1300 Hawkins Blvd.

· Judge Marquez, 610 N. Yarbrough Drive

· Memorial Park, 3200 Copper Ave.

· Richard Burges, 9600 Dyer St., Suite C

· Sergio Troncoso, 9321 Alameda Ave.

· Westside, 125 Belvidere St.

Residents who require after-hours/overnight assistance can call 311 to receive information about the city’s shelter network partners.

For more information about heat safety, visit ElPasoReady.org/Extreme-Heat

Women protect themselves from the sun with an umbrella as they walk around Downtown El Paso on Tuesday. Wednesday marks the start of summer, with temperatures expected to climb above 100 degrees the rest of the week.
Women protect themselves from the sun with an umbrella as they walk around Downtown El Paso on Tuesday. Wednesday marks the start of summer, with temperatures expected to climb above 100 degrees the rest of the week.

Tips to beat the heat

· Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.

· Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour.  A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. Warning: If you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage.

· Try to rest often in shady areas.

· Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and by putting on a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. The most effective products say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels.

Source: The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: City of El Paso opens cooling centers as heat hits Borderland