Excessive Heat Warning & County Advice
This weekend we are under an excessive heat warning, with temperatures projected to be over 100 degrees. Please help spread the word about these cooling center options in the Eugene/Springfield area. Updates will be posted on the Lane County’s website.
To address families and individuals who may need a place to escape the heat, Lane County is activating a Cooling & Heat Respite Center located at the Lane Events Center in the Main Performance Hall of the Convention Center.
This will allow for over 600 people, with accommodations for pets, to safely seek relief while maintaining ample distance and is open to anyone who needs to cool down. Hours of operation are from 9 am to 10 pm Saturday June 26th and Sunday June 27th. Those wishing to utilize the cooling center can enter through the main doors of the Convention Center located under the glass roof portion of the building. The Red Cross of Lane County has graciously agreed to help provide staffing, water, and snacks for the facility.
Tips from Lane County to stay safe. Those at greatest risk for heat-related illness include young children; adults 65 and older; athletes; and people with chronic illness or who are overweight, work outdoors, or have a low income. The best way to protect yourself from the harmful effects of excessive heat is to stay cool, stay hydrated and stay informed.
- Wear light colored clothing and use sunscreen.
- Schedule outdoor activities during cooler times of the day — like in the morning or evening.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Avoid alcoholic and sugary drinks.
- Stay informed of the weather and watch the Heat Index to help you identify the most dangerous periods during the heat wave.
Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke. This infographic from the Oregon Health Authority articulates the difference well. In the event of heat stroke, please call 9-1-1, as heat stroke is a medical emergency.
REMEMBER: Those at greatest risk for heat-related illness include young children; adults 65 and older; athletes; and people with chronic illness or who are overweight, work outdoors, or have a low income.
The best way to protect yourself from the harmful effects of excessive heat is to stay cool, stay hydrated and stay informed.
- Wear light colored clothing and use sunscreen.
- Schedule outdoor activities during cooler times of the day — like in the morning or evening.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Avoid alcoholic and sugary drinks.
- Stay informed of the weather and watch the Heat Index to help you identify the most dangerous periods during the heat wave.
Keeping Your Home Cool:
If you have an air conditioner, make sure it is installed and working. Set air conditioners to the setting most comfortable to you, preferably between 72°F and 79°F. Block the sun by using awnings or closing curtains and blinds during the day. Avoid using a fan as your main cooling source — especially when it is 90°F or more.
With a great number of people seeking relief at one of Lane County’s many waterways, our Lane County first responders would like to urge community members to use extreme caution when recreating. Use a life jacket and beware that many bodies of water remain cold despite the hot temperatures. If boating or swimming also beware of submerged hazards.
If you don’t have a place that is cool during the hottest parts of the day, LCPH recommends visiting a place that has air conditioning, e.g., a library, community center or shopping center, or a park with plenty of shade and /or a water feature, like a splash pad.
Pet Safety tips from the City of Eugene:
It is extremely important to remember these safety tips to keep your furry family members safe:
- Leave pets at home when running errands. Leaving your animal in a parked car, even for just a few minutes, can easily cause heat stroke or brain damage. On an 85-degree day, a car’s interior temperature can climb to 104 degrees in 10 minutes, even with the windows slightly open. Dogs are especially vulnerable to heat stress because they do not sweat in the way that humans do; they release body heat by panting.
- Dogs should not ride in uncovered pickup truck beds. The hot metal truck bed can burn your pet’s paw pads.
- Keep pets inside during the heat of the day; do not leave them outside unattended.
- Make sure pets have access to water bowls full of cool, fresh water.
- When pets are outside, be sure to provide shaded areas for them to rest in and invest in a misting hose or kiddie pool for a cool place for your pets to play.
- Limit or skip on exercise and time at the dog park during the heat of the day.
- Always test the pavement or sand with your hand before setting out (too hot to touch is too hot for your pet), walk early in the morning or late at night when it’s cooler, carry water and take frequent breaks in shady spots. If you suspect your pet’s paws have been burned, contact your vet immediately.
Animal heatstroke symptoms can include: restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, lack of appetite, dark tongue, vomiting, and lack of coordination. If your animal is overcome by heat exhaustion, consult your veterinarian right away. If you notice an animal in distress or unresponsive in a parked car, first try and locate the pet’s owner and alert him or her to the animal’s condition. If you cannot find the animal’s owner, call 911.
Places to cool down around Lane County:
Eugene
- Lane County Cooling & Heat Respite Center located in the Main Performance Hall in the Convention Center at the Lane Events Center. Will be open 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Saturday June 26th and Sunday June 27th. Accommodations for pets
- All water fountains and splash pads in Eugene are turned on for summer. Splash pads are available at:
- Fairmount Park (E. 15th Ave. and Fairmount Blvd.)
- Oakmont Park (2295 Oakmont Way)
- Skinner Butte Park (248 Cheshire Ave.)
- Washington Park (2025 Washington St.)
- The Downtown Library is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, closed on Sunday. Regular services are available. People can cool off while browsing, and 1-hour time slots are available for people to use a computer or access WiFi. The second floor of the Library will have 14 spaces marked out that are 6×6 feet and can accommodate four people per group (max of 56 people at a time).
- The Eugene Service Station will be open (8:30am-5pm 7 days/week) and First Place Family Center (8-5) will have water when visiting the folks in overnight and safe parking spots.
- Black Thistle Street Aid will be at Washington Jefferson Park on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. distributing water and other supplies as long as they last.
Springfield
- Water Misters beneath City Hall, 225 Fifth Street in Springfield. Available from 2 pm to 8 pm each day starting Saturday, June 26.
- Water bottle filling station beneath City Hall, 225 Fifth Street in Springfield. Available from 2 pm to 7 pm each day starting Saturday, June 26.
- Splash will be open:
- Saturday 11AM–3PM and 3:30–7:30PM
- Sunday 11AM–3PM and 3:30–7:30PM
Junction City
- None planned due to COVID-19 restrictions
Cottage Grove
- The Cottage Grove Community Center located at 700 E. Gibbs Avenue, Cottage Grove, is open this Saturday and Sunday (June 26 – 27) from 10 am to sundown as a cooling center. For additional information on the Cottage Grove Cooling Center, please call 541-942-1185.
Veneta
- Information pending, check here
Florence
- Information pending, check here
