How to stay cool; Where to swim; Ice cream locations; Signs of heat stroke

Temperatures will approach record highs on Saturday and Sunday with some forecasters calling for temperatures in the 90s.

AccuWeather said Friday that temperatures in the Laurel Highlands will reach the high 80s on Saturday and the low 90s on Sunday. Weather.com forecast slightly lower temperatures for Somerset County.

According to Wunderground.com, the highest temperature ever recorded officially for July 24 was 97 degrees.

Here are a few tips on staying cool.

Tips on keeping cool

• Drink lots of water, more than usual, no matter how active you are. Don't wait until you're thirsty. Make sure your pets have plenty to drink.

• Avoid liquids with large amounts of sugar, alcohol or caffeine. These can increase body fluid loss.

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible.

• Take cool showers or baths.

• Limit outdoor activity, especially in the middle of the day.

• Use drapes or shades on windows to keep out sun.

• Limit oven and stove use to keep in-home temperatures lower.

• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing to improve perspiration evaporation.

Where to swim in Somerset County?

• Windber Recreational Pool — Address: 160 Rec Road, Windber, PA 15963. Phone: 814-467-6696

• Somerset Area School District — Address: 645 S. Columbia Ave., Somerset, PA 15501. Phone: 814-443-2248

• Linda's Dance Studio — Address: 105 E 1st Ste. 4, Somerset, PA 15501. Phone: 814-445-4225

• Laurel Hill State Park — Address: 1454 Laurel Hill Park Road, Somerset, PA 15501. Phone: 814-445-7725

• Quemahoning Family Recreation Area — Address: Quemahoning Dam Road, Hollsopple, PA 15935. Phone: 814-233-9512

• Youghiogheny River Lake Recreation Area — Route 281, Confluence, PA 15424. Phone: 814-395-3242

Ice cream locations

• Berlin Ice Cream Station — 409 Broadway St., Berlin, PA 15530

• Pit Stop Kremery — 346 Main St., Meyersdale, PA 15552

• Dairy Queen — 779 N. Center Ave., Somerset, PA 15501

• Molly's Ice Cream — 1548 N. Center Ave., Somerset, PA 15501

• The Rambler — 1203 Jefferson Ave., Windber, PA 15963

• Silver Bell in Davidsville — 1575 Tire Hill Road, Davidsville, PA 15928

• Shaffer's Frosty Freeze — 134 Frosty Lane, Johnstown, PA 15905

• Donges Drive-In — 100 Center St., Meyersdale, PA 15552

• Shake Shak — 327 Alwine Road, Boswell, PA 15531

• Krause's Soft Freeze — 8015 Somerset Pike, Boswell, PA 15531

• The Outflow Soft Freeze — 1523 Mae West Road, Confluence, PA 15424

When is Chalk the Block?

Chalk the Block:This year's Chalk the Block is the biggest yet

Although Somerset Chalk the Block's chalk drawings will be mostly confined to the sidewalks outdoors, there are still places to cool down at the festival.

In addition to the outdoor events like the 5K and kids zone, most of Somerset's Uptown businesses will be open and participating during the festivities.

Make sure to stop inside the air-conditioned buildings for a brief reprieve from the summer sun.

"We are the first festival of this kind in western Pennsylvania, and we attribute the interest to the ambiance of the event and the growth in attendance, as well as the kindness and promotion of professional artists who have come to the event before," Somerset Inc. Executive Director Regina Coughenour said.

"This festival will amaze you, will bring you peace and will inspire you. I guarantee it. We invite everyone to come see the 3D art from these nationally-renowned artists and to get creative themselves. From the music to the art to the food to the quaint town setting, there’s nothing like Uptown Chalk the Block Festival in all of Pennsylvania.”

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

What are the signs:Heat exhaustion vs heat stroke: How to recognize warnings signs and tips to keep cool

Every year, more than 700 people in the USA die from a combination of prolonged high heat and humidity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here are the common signs of heat stroke:

• Pulsating headache or no headache

• Hot, red, dry skin

• Vomiting and nausea

• Rapid weak pulse

• Loss of consciousness

Here are the signs of heat exhaustion

• Profuse sweating

• Feeling faint or dizziness

• Cool, pale, clammy skin

• Vomiting and nausea

• Rapid weak pulse

• Muscle cramps

How to help:

• Get the victim to shade

• Cool them with water, fans or whatever is available

• Monitor their body temperature until it drops to 101 degrees

• Get medical help

• Call a hospital for instructions

• Do not give them alcohol

Editor's note: USA TODAY writers Janet Loehrke and George Petras contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Beat the heat as Somerset County faces record high temperatures