Jun 23, 2009 10:44 pm US/Central
Severe Heat Advisory Hits Western Suburbs
AURORA, Ill. (CBS) ―
Tuesday night's heat advisory is especially rough in the western suburbs. CBS 2's Vince Gerasole reports that a lot of people have been struggling to keep their cool.
Things have finally cooled off in Aurora. It's downright pleasant now at 84 degrees. Compare that to 93 which was the high here today. Since this time yesterday emergency crews here responded to 26 mostly minor heat-related calls. They remind us to play it cool as we try to beat the heat.
Ask those playing baseball in this weather: the heat can be foul.
"It's a scorcher, the heat is just beating on me right now," said Aurora resident Joe Sweeney. "It's hot and it hurts your skin."
"Just real sticky and sweaty," said Aurora resident Mike Sweeney.
That goes for the players running in the field, and even their fans sitting still in the stands.
"Really hot, blazing," said Aurora resident Javier Vargas.
"I changed my shirt three times, it was terrible," said Ken Freewalt.
Drivers cranked their air conditioners on the hot road home, driving past reminders of today's stifling temperatures even late into the day.
The public library was one of five cooling centers activated by the city of Aurora Tuesday for the young and elderly and others at risk.
"It seems we're fighting the mugginess of outside and our air conditioners have been working very hard to keep up," said Shannon Halikias.
To keep things a pleasant 72 degrees, the staff took extra steps.
"Today I took down the overhead lights in order to reduce the wattage," Halikias said.
"It's awful. I would melt if I didn't have the air conditioning," said Montgomery resident Marie McMenamin.
The heat is brutal, not only for those a play but also those at work as well.
The folks playing baseball in the heat reminded us how not to strike out in this dangerous weather.
"Drink plenty of fluids, get in shade when needed and just take it easy," Joe Sweeney said.
"If you pump a lot of water through your system, you shouldn't have a problem," Mike Sweeney said.
Doctors say it is important to stay hydrated and to take it slow.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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