DAVENPORT, Iowa — While the official start of summer may be a few days away, the seasonal weather is already hitting close to home. Much of the News 8 viewing region is under a heat advisory through Tuesday evening, with temperatures in the 90s and heat indices crossing into the triple digits.
We have compiled a list of tips to avoid heat-related illnesses or injuries.
- Drink a lot of water or other fluids to stay hydrated. However, avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
- Take cool showers or baths.
- Do not leave children or pets inside cars. The interior temperature can soar up to 120 degrees rapidly, according to the Red Cross.
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothes. Try to avoid dark clothing that can absorb the sun's rays.
- Try to limit outdoor activities or postpone them until temperatures go down.
- Avoid intense exercising during the hottest times of the day.
- For those who have to work outdoors, take frequent breaks and put a buddy system in place in case something happens.
- Make sure to check in on those without air conditioning, who are at risk of being affected by the heat or spend a lot of time alone.
- Check on animals and make sure they have cool water and shade.
- Wear sunscreen when outside.
Signs of heat-related illnesses
It's important to know the signs of heat exhaustion in order to act accordingly. Here are some from the American Red Cross:
- Cool, moist, pale or flushed skin
- Heavy sweating
- Headache
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Weakness
- Exhaustion
If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion, move them to a cooler place. Remove tight clothing and spray them with water. Wet cloths or towels can also be applied to the skin. In addition, immersing the person in cool water can help.
According to the Red Cross, heat strokes usually occur when signs of exhaustion are ignored. Changes in consciousness, high body temperature and vomiting are all signs of heat stroke. If someone is showing signs of heat stroke, call 911 and work to cool them down with the tips mentioned above.
Another ailment that can result from dehydration is kidney stones, according to the University of Iowa Health Care. The stones are formed from calcium and other materials usually filtered out of the kidneys.
"When the kidneys have a steady flow of fluid moving through them, those bits stay tiny and pass out of the body unnoticed," according to Ryan Steinberg, a urologist at the university. If there is not enough or less fluid present, the "tiny bits" can "stick together and grow.
Cooling centers in the Quad Cities
If your home doesn't have air conditioning, there are public places that can provide some relief from the heat. Public places like libraries or shopping malls are good places to spend time inside for a few hours.
Here is a list of available cooling centers in and around the Quad Cities. If you know of one we're missing, please send it our way by emailing news@wqad.com.
Iowa
Scott County
- Riverdale City Hall at 110 Manor Dr. in Riverdale
- Available Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Bettendorf's Community Center at 2204 Grant St. in Bettendorf
- Available Wednesday from 12p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Bettendorf Public Library at 2950 Learning Campus Dr. in Bettendorf
- 563-344-4175
- Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:40 p.m., closed Sunday
- Vera French Carol Center at 808 N. Harrison St. in Davenport
- 563-322-5276
- Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed weekends
- The Center at 1411 Brady St. in Davenport
- 563-323-5295
- Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed weekends
- Davenport Public Library Main Branch at 321 Main St. in Davenport
- 563-326-7832
- Monday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,closed Sunday
- Davenport Public Library Fairmount Branch at 3000 N. Fairmount St. in Davenport
- 563-326-7832
- Monday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. mto 5:30 p.m., closed Sunday
- Davenport Public Library Eastern Branch at 6000 Eastern Ave. in Davenport
- 563-326-7832
- Monday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed Sunday
- Northpark Mall at 320 Kimberly Rd. in Davenport
- 563-391-4500
- Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 12 to 6 p.m.
Des Moines County
- Salvation Army of Burlington & Des Moines County at 216 Columbus Dr. in Burlington
- 319-753-2038
- Call for hours
Illinois
Rock Island County
- East Moline Public Library at 745 16th Ave. in East Moline
- 309-755-9614
- Monday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed Sunday
- Moline Public Library at 3210 41st St. in Moline
- 309-524-2440
- Monday to Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Moline Township Activity Center at 620 18th St. in Moline
- 309-797-0789
- Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed weekends
- Southpark Mall at 4500 16th St. in Moline
- 309-797-6142
- Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Christian Care at 2209 3rd Ave. in Rock Island
- 309-786-5734
- Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Rock Island Township at 2827 7th Ave. in Rock Island
- 309-788-3417
- Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed weekends
- Rock Island County Senior Center at 2221 11th St. in Rock Island
- 309-788-6334
- Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed weekends
- South Rock Island Township at 4330 11th St. in Rock Island
- 309-788-0496
- Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed weekends
- Rock Island Public Library at 401 19th St. in Rock Island
- 309-732-7323
- Monday and Tuesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Sunday
- Silvis Public Library at 806 1st Ave. in Silvis
- 309-755-3393
- Monday and Tuesday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed Wednesday, Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 pm., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., close Sunday
Knox County
- Galesburg YMCA at 1324 Carl Sandburg Dr. in Galesburg (Temporary)
- 309-344-1324
- Wednesday to Friday 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
- Oneida Fire Station at 210 Sage St. in Oneida (Temporary)
- Open 24 hours through Saturday, June 22
- Wataga Fire Station at 310 Willard St. in Wataga (Temporary)
- Open 24 hours through Saturday, June 22
- Knox County Housing Authority Shelter at 525/527 Iowa Court in Galesburg
- Open daily from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- East Galesburg Fire Station at 411 S. State St. in Galesburg
- Open 24 hours through Saturday, June 22
Both Iowa and Illinois have online databases to find cooling centers, which can be found here (Iowa) or here (Illinois).
Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel