Ken and Carols (CCF) has remained busy and crowded due to the weather and most of my clients have been bumming bus passes from me to simply ride around all day on an air conditioned bus. It's a good way to beat the heat, but I'm now down to single ride passes, so they don't do a whole lot for folks really trying to cool off.
Wednesday, 08/08/07
Schools, homeless struggle with heat
Principals, athletic directors initiate precautions for kidsSchool officials around the Midstate are taking steps to ensure students practicing sports and other outdoor activities do not get dangerously overheated, and homeless advocates fanned out through Nashville to ensure those without shelter were protected from the sweltering heat.
Nashville's oppressive heat was like that consuming much of the nation Tuesday, made worse by high humidity that stretched from the Midwest to the East Coast. The National Weather Service issued excessive-heat warnings in several states. Three deaths nationwide were blamed on the temperatures.
"We've had some dangerous levels of heat index and air quality," said David Burton, Wilson County schools' director of safety. "We are not going to put kids in those type of conditions until the weather improves."
So the schools have banned outdoor activities, including sports, band and ROTC. Activities still can take place indoors, Burton said.
A decision will be made Thursday night whether to extend the outdoor ban through the weekend, he said.
In Davidson County, no outdoor ban has been made, but Metro Athletic Director Scott Brunette said principals have been reminded about practicing safely in the heat.
"We have discussed practicing in the heat," Brunette said. They need to follow our guidelines."
Rutherford County schools have canceled all athletic scrimmages and practices from Wednesday through Friday because of the high temperatures, said James Evans, Rutherford County schools spokesman.
The cancellation, like Wilson County's includes all outdoor activities, but teams may practice indoors, Evans said.
Most Williamson County football teams have moved practice to evenings, said Carol Birdsong, spokeswoman for Williamson County schools.
Principals have been contacted with instructions to talk with athletic directors regarding heat precautions, she said.
Ronnie Carter, Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association executive director, said he couldn't remember a time that an entire school system in Tennessee shut down practice because of high temperatures.
Clinic, mission stay busy
Nashville Electric Service expects demand to remain high or reach even higher levels this week as the hot weather is prompting heavy use of air conditioning units. Nashville is not in danger of rolling blackouts, she said.
"At this point, everything is working very well as far as the system goes, and we're not having a problem meeting the demand," spokeswoman Teresa Corlew said.
Meanwhile, three homeless patients came to the Metro Health Department's downtown clinic sweating profusely with headaches, cramping and nausea, said Beverly McMahon, the staff nurse. One patient who was severely dehydrated was transported to Metro General Hospital, she said. The others were treated at the clinic.
"We kept them cool, kept an eye on them and gave them cold water,'' she said.
The clinic also has been seeing people with chronic respiratory conditions being affected by the poor air quality, said Becca Rickey of the clinic.
She said the clinic began handing out bottled water Tuesday and will continue through the heat wave.
Rachel Hester of Room in the Inn at 532 Eighth Ave. S., a facility for the homeless, said the day room was crowded with people trying to escape the heat.
"There are so few places for people to get cool," she said. The facility offers cool water and drinks and provides books, magazines and art activities. It's also been showing movies this week, she said.
For many, this will be a financial blow, she said.
"People can't work or they can't work as much. So even if they were getting ahead, they're falling behind now," Hester said.
At the Nashville Rescue Mission, demand for meals and a place to cool off has been swelling, the mission's Pat Lesch said.
"Right now, it's pretty serious," Lesch said. "And if it keeps on as they think it will, it will be a crisis."
