Montgomery offering cooling stations at community centers, libraries as heat rises

Shannon Heupel, Montgomery Advertiser
·4 min read

With a heat index expected to top 110 in the coming days, Montgomery is offering the public access to facilities to use as cooling stations now through Sunday.

While actual temperatures will reach at or near 100 degrees according to the National Weather Service, the heat index is what the body feels the temperature is — a combination of air temperature and humidity.

Houston Hill Community Center is one of several acting as a cooling center now through Sunday during excessive heat, and is one of four centers to have a pool that's free to use by the public.
Houston Hill Community Center is one of several acting as a cooling center now through Sunday during excessive heat, and is one of four centers to have a pool that's free to use by the public.

The cooling stations at community centers and library branches will be available during their normal hours of operation, according to a release from the city. They include:

  • Brewbaker Community Center, 4450 Brewbaker Drive

  • Chisholm Community Center, 545 E. Vandiver Blvd.

  • Crump Senior Center, 1751 Cong WL Dickinson Drive

  • E.D. Nixon (Goode) Community Center, 1000 Edgar D. Nixon Ave.

  • Earl James (Capitol Heights) Community Center, 206 Federal Drive

  • Floyd Community Center, 3450 Le Bron Road

  • Goodwyn Community Center, 205 Perry Hill Road

  • Hayneville Road Community Center, 3315 Hayneville Road

  • Highland Gardens Community Center, 2805 Willena Ave.

  • Houston Hill Community Center, 207 Hall St.

  • Hunter Station Community Center, 20 Judge C. Price St.

  • King Hill Community Center, 814 E. Claremont Ave.

  • Loveless Community Center, 911 W. Fred Gray Ave.

  • McIntyre Community Center, 1249 Hugh St.

  • Newtown Community Center, 1756 N. Decatur St.

  • Old Selma Road Community Center, 3200 Old Selma Road

  • Regency Park Community Center, 5995 Christy Lane

  • Sheridan Heights Community Center, 3501 Faro Drive

  • Therapeutic Recreation Center, 604 Augusta Ave.

  • Willie Cook (Macedonia) Community Center, 6050 Woodley Circle

  • Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library, 245 High St.

  • EL Lowder Regional Branch Library, 2490 Bell Road

  • Rufus A. Lewis Regional Branch Library, 3095 Mobile Highway

  • Coliseum Boulevard Branch Library, 840 Coliseum Blvd.

  • Governor's Square Branch Library, 2885-B East South Boulevard

  • Bertha Pleasant Williams Library at Rosa L. Parks Avenue Branch, 1276 Rosa L. Parks Ave.

  • Hampstead Branch Library, 5251 Hampstead High St., Suite 107

  • Pintlala Branch Library, 255 Federal Road, Hope Hull

  • Pike Road Branch Library, 9585 Vaughn Road

  • Ramer Branch Library, 5444 State Hwy. 94, Ramer

  • Extension & Outreach Services Library, 2885-B East South Boulevard

Four of the community centers — Houston Hill, McIntyre, Regency Park, and Sheridan Heights — have swimming pools that are open to the public for free. Gunter Pool, 2390 Cong. W L Dickinson Drive, is also free to use. Pool hours for all these are weekdays, 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.; Saturdays, 1-6 p.m.; Sundays, 2-5 p.m.

READ MORE: Time to cool off: Here's the ultimate list of places to beat the heat in the River Region

Health risks from excessive heat

The Alabama Department of Public Health is advising the public to be alert to warning signs of heat illnesses, the most common of which are:

  • Heat cramps — include muscle pains or spasms (abdomen, arms or legs), profuse sweat, and high salt concentration in the sweat.

  • Heat exhaustion — associated with heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, or vomiting and fainting. Other possible symptoms may include cool and moist skin, fast and weak pulse rate, fast and shallow breathing or irritability. Older adults, those with high blood pressure, and those working or exercising in a hot environment are prone to heat exhaustion. If heat exhaustion is not treated, it may progress to heatstroke.

  • Heat stroke or sun stroke — the most serious heat-related illness, a life-threatening problem, may occur when the body is unable to control its temperature. Body temperature may rise to 106 degrees or higher within 10-15 minutes. Signs include an extremely high body temperature, red, hot and dry or moist skin, rapid, strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, dehydration, combativeness or confusion, and unconsciousness. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and even with immediate treatment, it can be life-threatening or cause serious long-term problems.

ADPH recommendations

  • Drink plenty of fluids except alcohol or caffeinated beverages to prevent dehydration

  • Stay in an air-conditioned room

  • Keep out of the sun by seeking shelter

  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing

  • Use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher

  • Take cool showers or baths

  • Reduce or eliminate strenuous activities during the hottest times of the day.

  • Never leave people or pets in a parked vehicle.

  • Use caution: Persons with heart disease, diabetes, obesity, poor circulation, or previous stroke problems, people of older and younger ages, and those taking certain medications are at greater risk of becoming ill in hot weather.

READ MORE: Montgomery heat index expected to exceed 110 degrees for three straight days

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This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery offering cooling stations at community centers, libraries