Connecticut’s extreme heat protocol is in effect through Sunday as a midweek heat wave brings dangerously high temperatures, opening public cooling centers across the state and prompting experts to urge residents to stay hydrated and avoid prolonged time outdoors.

Cooling Centers Open Across the State

The protocol includes public cooling centers, such as the Hartford Downtown Library. According to the United Way of Connecticut, there are more than 70 cooling centers across 31 towns and cities. Residents can call 2-1-1 to find the nearest location and get help with transportation if needed.

Tanya Barrett, Senior Vice President of 211 Health and Human Services at the United Way of Connecticut, said the centers are an important resource for residents. “With the weather being oppressively hot, there just have to be places for people to get relief,” Barrett said.

Health experts also warn that hot and humid conditions increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, which often begin with symptoms such as headaches or muscle cramps. Natalie Cooper, a clinical assistant professor at the Quinnipiac School of Nursing, said humidity makes it more difficult for the body to cool itself.

“That moisture really makes a difference and can make it really hard to sweat effectively and release some of the heat,” she said. Cooper said people should drink water before they begin feeling thirsty. “You should be drinking even if you’re not thirsty. So, you want to be preventative, staying well hydrated in advance of activities, just knowing that it’s a really hot day,” she said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends drinking about three to five water bottles of a similar size each day to stay hydrated. People who work or exercise outdoors on hot days should increase that amount by another one or two bottles.

Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.