- Libraries – all five Worcester County branch libraries will be open Friday and Saturday. Friday all branches open at 9 a.m., with the Snow Hill and Pocomoke branches closing at 5 p.m. and the Ocean City, Berlin and Ocean Pines branches closing at 6 p.m. Saturday all branches will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact library officials at 410-632-2600 or visit www.worcesterlibrary.org.
- Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill - The WCRC will be open Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will be open and offering special programs for families with children Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, residents are invited to walk on the four-lane competitive track or simply relax on the retractable bleachers. For more information, call Recreation and Parks at 410-632-2144.
- Commission on Aging – the Charles and Martha Fulton Senior Center in Snow Hill will be open Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Northern Worcester County Senior Center in Berlin will be open Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for senior citizens that may need shelter from the heat. Commission on Aging staff can be reached at 410-632-1277.
What can you do to help remain safe during extreme heat conditions? Drink plenty of fluids, avoid alcohol and caffeine, and take frequent breaks from stressful activities to avoid becoming dehydrated and overheated, which can lead to heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Be aware that heat stroke and heat exhaustion are both serious, life-threatening conditions. Heatstroke, which is characterized by a body temperature greater than 105 degrees, can develop quickly and is often accompanied by the following symptoms: dry, red skin, convulsions, disorientation, delirium and coma. Heatstroke is treated by rapidly lowering the body temperature by a cool bath or wet towels. A heatstroke victim should be kept in a cool area; emergency medical care should be obtained by dialing 911. Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heatstroke, and symptoms may include extreme weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, and headache, vomiting or fainting. Heat exhaustion can be treated by drinking plenty of liquids and resting in a cool, shaded area.
The County Commissioners urge all residents to take proper precautions to protect themselves and take time to check on vulnerable neighbors and to contact 911 in the event of a health related emergency. For more information on how to keep safe during extreme heat, visit the Worcester County Health Department at www.worcesterhealth.org.
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CONTACT: Kim Moses, public information officer, (410) 632-1194, Recreation and
Parks (410) 632-2144; or Worcester County Library (410) 632-2600