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COOL IN THE POOL: WAYS TO STAY BELOW SIMMERING

By Erin France/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:11 AM CDT

Dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat illness are all possible with the onset of summer temperatures.

Pine Bluff Commercial/Ralph Fitzgerald Daine McConnell, of Pine Bluff, relaxes and keeps cool in the waters of Eden Park Friday afternoon when temperatures were in the upper nineties.

There’s a few different ways of keeping cool depending on whether you’re in a house, on the ball field or lounging pool side.

Carolyn Ferguson, an officer of access services for Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, suggests fans.

The agency is holding a “Beat the Heat” fan drive in a 10 county area, she said.

“We are asking the community to donate fans,” Ferguson said. “We distribute them to the disabled and senior population.”

Signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion include muscle cramps, sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and fainting, she said.

People experiencing such symptoms can drink a cool non-alcoholic beverage, take a cold shower or bath, stay in air-conditioned surroundings and wear light clothing, Ferguson added.

Fan donators can contact Linda Smith or call 543-6300, she said.

At Eden Park Racquet Club and Spa on Friday afternoon life guards there have an old standby for preventing and correcting signs of dehydration.

“Definitely drink water — lots of it, especially on hot days like this,” said Erin Bickley, an Eden Park life guard.

Amanda Rushing, visiting from San Francisco, sat in the shade with her baby parked in a stroller within reach.

“I usually just keep water in the stroller,” she said.

Rushing prefers water over juice because of the high sugar content, she said.

“It’s healthier for her if she’s dehydrated,” she said.

Diane McConnell of Pine Bluff, sat on the steps of the pool, wearing sunglasses and a big straw hat.

McConnell watched the antics of her 8-year-old granddaughter Marissa McConnell, who was visiting from Florida.

“We make sure that we drink once an hour,” McConnell said.

Her granddaughter handed her a toy mermaid before paddling back from the steps.

Whether the malady is heat exhaustion or a sunburn, McConnell said, the best prevention and cure is location.

“The main thing: Be within reach.”

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