Many Bradford residents may find themselves unable to obtain an
air conditioner or fan over the next day or two.
Officials with Wal-Mart, True Value Hardware at Bisett Building
Center and the Dollar General on Boylston Street said they are out
of air-conditioners and fans, although Wal-Mart and True Value
still have dehumidifiers.
According to an employee in the hardware department of Wal-Mart,
“Four (air conditioners) came in this morning and were gone by 10
(a.m.).” Wal-Mart is also out of fans, and the employee said he was
unsure when the next shipment would come in.
Meanwhile, Dollar General had a shipment come in last Friday and
ran out of fans over the weekend, according to a saleswoman. True
Value hardware also sold all its air conditioners and fans on
Tuesday, including ones left over from last year, by 1 a.m., said
Bob Geitner, a salesman for the store.
“We have way more requests than we can supply,” he said, adding
there should be more coming soon.
The excessive heat can also play havoc on the body, although Kim
Maben, director of communications at Bradford Regional Medical
Center, said there have been no more cases of heat-related
illnesses than normal reported to the hospital.
The heat has also left people hunting for shade.
Admission fees were repealed on Wednesday in Allegany State Park
near Salamanca, N.Y., to allow more people access to the beaches,
according to a park ranger.
The park’s General Manager Mike Miecznikowski said most people
weren’t out on the beach during the afternoon.
“It’s an interesting phenomenon,” he said. “More people are
trying to find shelter from the heat and staying in the shade. The
snack bars are selling a lot, so people are here.” He said the
beaches see more activity in the evenings when the temperatures
drop a little.
Closer to home in the city, Parks Director Chip Comilla said the
Barcroft Pool in Callahan Park has only had a little more than the
average amount of people, saying close to 200 came in Tuesday. He
said the crowd has changed slightly since last year.
“Mom and dad are coming to swim, too, instead of just dropping
off the kids.” Comilla reported low attendance for last week.
Animals can also feel the brunt of Mother Nature’s wrath.
Ed Rodgers, assistant manager at the McKean County SPCA, said
all the animals are dealing with the heat well.
“We give them lots of water every half-hour and somebody comes
down several times a night to water them, too.” Between drinking
and evaporation, the water needs replaced about every half-hour,
Rodgers said.
Children and elderly are the most vulnerable to heat-related
illnesses, and residents should check on family, friends and
neighbors who have no air conditioning and spend a lot of time
alone.
To deal with extremely hot weather, residents should stay
indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun, stay on
the lowest floor and out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not
available, consider spending the warmest part of the day in public
buildings like libraries and other community facilities,
circulating air to increase the evaporation rate of perspiration,
eat well-balanced, light meals regularly, lower salt consumption
unless directed otherwise by a physician and drink plenty of
water.
People who have epilepsy or heart, kidney or liver disease; are
on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention
should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
Residents should also limit intake of alcoholic beverages, dress
in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover
as much skin as possible, protect face and head by wearing a
wide-brimmed hat, never leave children or pets alone in closed
vehicles, avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day
and use a buddy system when working in extreme heat while taking
frequent breaks.
