Community Corner

City Opens Cooling Centers For Residents Fleeing Heat

The Manassas Park Community Center and the city's Department of Social Services in city hall will both serve as "cooling centers" for residents who need it.

Manassas Park city officials have designated two cooling centers for residents seeking shelter from mid-week soaring temperatures.

r on 99 Adams St. and the city's Department of Social Services offices inside city hall at 1 Park Center Ct. will both be open to residents who need an air conditioned place to stay, city officials said Tuesday.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m. Temperatures will be between the middle to upper 90s but the heat index will make it feel like anywhere between 100 or 105.

Find out what's happening in Manassas Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Frank Jones, the mayor of Manassas Park said that residents should seek shelter and stay cool, but not forget to check on their elderly neighbors and family members, as well as those with small children who may need assistance. 

"Please keep an eye on your neighbors," Jones said during Tuesday's city council meeting. "The worst thing that can happen is that we'll have a casualty because somebody got into heat stress and didn't know what was happening. Northern Virginia loses a couple of people every year to that."

Find out what's happening in Manassas Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The following are lists of the most recognizable signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which is a more serious condition.

Heat Exhaustion

  • Heavy sweating
  • Muscle cramps
  • Weakness
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Paleness, tiredness and dizziness.

Heat stroke

  • An extremely high body temperature (above 103° Fahrenheit when taken orally)
  • Unconsciousness
  • Dizziness, nausea and confusion
  • Red, hot and dry skin (no sweating)
  • Rapid and strong pulse

Patch editor Lauren Jost contributed to his report.


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