GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – This weekend is shaping up to be hot, sweaty and sticky. Meteorologists say the heat index could reach into the upper 90s by Sunday.
“I mean, we’re prepared. Usually hotter weather brings in bigger crows, but they’re ready,” says Courtney Decker, a recreation coordinator for the pools in Green Bay.
Decker says with the hotter temperatures, health and safety are top of mind for their lifeguarding staff.
“We make sure we add in some safety breaks for staff so we’ll clear the pool for 15 minutes and they can either hop in the water cool off, go sit in the air conditioning and cool off, refill waters, stay hydrated. We also add extra pool directors so that way we have more staff circulating the pool deck to make sure we have water bottles filled up, sunscreen going on more regularly,” she says.
But Decker says it’s not just lifeguards who need to be mindful of the heat.
“Definitely hydration breaks for kids as well,” she adds. “I think that’s one thing, and not that it’s sugary, so make sure we’re getting water…breaks from the pool as well, sitting in the shade.”
While some may be cooling off in the pool, others may choose to stay indoors. The New Community Shelter is expecting to see more people than normal for their daily community meals.
“We serve about 150 people a night here. Some people live here that are residents of the shelter, and other people from the community come, and look, if you’re in a hot house or apartment, you really don’t want to turn on a hot oven or stove. So they’re welcome to come here and it’s a great meal,” says Jim Schmitt, the community outreach coordinator at the New Community Shelter.
The shelter will also offer its cafeteria as a cooling center for the weekend, opening daily at 11:30. That’s also when they will serve lunch for community members on the weekend. As always, anyone is welcome.
“Heat can be more dangerous than I think people can think, and it can also raise the anxiety level a little bit you know,” says Schmitt. “To be in a cooler environment and play a couple of board games, and visit with people you know or don’t know, I think that’s important .”
He adds, “We’re here for the community and especially when it’s hot like this, we encourage people to come use our facility.”
Comments