Keeping pets and people safe in record-breaking temperatures

Hot temperatures give the possibility for heat exhaustion, ABC 17s Sharon Ray said Columbia broke a record with 94 degrees in the afternoon Monday.

According to Columbia’s dispatch log, there were 24 more calls for medical response on Saturday and Sunday during Memorial Day weekend than last weekend, which was not as warm.

People are flocking to local public pools to beat the heat, but not all of them are open yet.

Albert-Oakland Family Aquatic Center is the only outdoor public swimming pool in Columbia open for the season.

The other pools, Lake of the Woods Pool, Douglass Family Aquatic Center and Little Mates Cove at Twin Lakes Recreation Area open for the season on June 1.

“When we’ve been here, the sand can be hot, but today I’ve never felt it be this hot like it is today and it burns your feet, you have to run across the sand,” Centralia resident Valerie Havemen said. “It feels like it should be the Fourth of July, it is so hot outside.”

The Red Cross advises to check on animals frequently to make sure they are not suffering in the heat.

Christian Bedy brought his dog Nessi to Cosmo Park for an annual Memorial Day picnic Monday.

Bedy said he’s had to protect Nessi during the heat Monday.

“I’ve had water with her, I’ve kept her in the shade and I fed her a lot of watermelon because I heard that’s good for dogs,” Bedy said.

Bedy said if the ground is too hot for a human hand, then it is too hot for a dog’s paws.

“So I always check the ground before I let her walk on the asphalt or anything like that,” Bedy said.

The Red Cross also provides the following tips on what to do during a heat wave:

Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol. Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid extreme temperature changes. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays. Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day. Postpone outdoor games and activities. Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors. Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.