By Emily Loughridge
Contributing Writer
As Oklahoma’s summer continues to heat up, the City of Yukon is urging its residents to drink more water, use sunscreen, and find a cool place to rest.
The doors to the Dale Robertson Center, Mabel C. Fry Public Library, Jackie Cooper Gym, and other public buildings have opened to Yukon residents as cooling stations.
Jenna Roberson, Yukon’s public information officer, said that a cooling station is an air-conditioned space to temporarily deal with health effects as a result of the extreme heat.
“Many City employees work outside, and their safety is a top priority for us. We are providing pallets of bottled water, ice chests, and ice to help keep them cool,” Roberson said. “We are also encouraging them to use our buildings to cool down.”
She continued to say that residents and workers are welcome to cool down in the facilities; however, the buildings are not equipped to provide food, shelter, and water.
Although some of the buildings do have water fountains, these areas are available during their hours of operation for resting and cooling off.
The Yukon Community Center’s air-conditioning is currently being worked on, so the City recommends stopping by their other previously mentioned buildings.
Roberson also recommends checking vehicles for unattended animals, children, or other individuals.
10 DEGREES HIGHER
The Mesonet, Oklahoma’s Weather Network, shows a 10-degree difference between the 2022 and 2023 highest temperatures for July, as of July 20.
In July 2022, the highest temperature recorded was 98 degrees Fahrenheit and in July 2023, that increased to 108 degrees.
Another point of comparison was the level of rainfall and humidity. In July 2022, only half an inch of rain fell and the humidity averaged 51.5%, compared to July 2023, which saw 7.74 inches of rain and an average of 72.6% humidity.
The Centers for Dieses Control and Prevention (CDC) has various tips for staying cool, hydrated, and informed during this intense bout of heat.
A few pieces of advice include wearing lightweight clothing, pace yourself and schedule outdoor activities carefully, avoid hot and heavy meals, and ensure that both you and your pets are drinking lots of fluids.
For more information go to: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heattips.html#HeatSafety
