Staying Cool In Greendale During Wisconsin's Heat Advisory

GREENDALE, WI — As a heat index as high as 105 sweeps into much of Wisconsin, including Greendale, officials are reminding people how to stay safe and offering public places to catch a break.

The Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management issued a heat advisory for both Tuesday and Wednesday. National forecasters expected heat index values between 100 and 105 after Monday's round of storms across much of southeastern Wisconsin.

The heat comes just after thunderstorms knocked out the power to thousands in the Milwaukee area, possibly leaving some without air conditioning. Some outages affecting thousands lingered in Milwaukee's southern communities into Tuesday morning. We Energies said it expects all outages to be resolved or be assigned by 7 p.m.

The Milwaukee Health Department recommended people take precautions to avoid heat illness or death, including:

• Spending part of the day inside an air-conditioned space like shopping malls or libraries.
• Not leaving children or pets in parked cars as temperatures can be life-threatening within minutes.
• Wear light and loose clothing.
• Take cool baths or showers and use wet towels.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
• Check in with people who are at risk and remind them to drink water.
• Be aware of heat-related illness symptoms
  • Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting or fainting
  • Heat stroke symptoms include extremely high body temperature, hot and dry skin (no sweating), rapid pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or unconsciousness.

Heat exhaustion and stroke symptoms can become life-threatening if untreated.

Here are some areas in Greendale where you can cool off:

Greendale Public Library
5647 Broad Street
414-423-2790
Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Southridge Mall
5300 South 76th Street
414-421-5600
Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m.