It's hot outside, but it was cool around the card table Tuesday afternoon at the Senior Community Center in downtown Pottsville.
Local seniors have been taking advantage of the extra hours at the centers in Pottsville and Mahanoy City this week as a way to escape the 90-degree temperatures.
"A lot of people don't have air conditioners and they need a place to cool off," Kathy Leahy, regional senior center program manager at Diakon Community Services for Seniors, said Tuesday.
Diakon is subcontracted through the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services.
The unofficial high temperature Tuesday was 93 degrees, according to the National Weather Service, State College. High temperatures are expected to be in the low 90s until Friday while overnight temperatures are expected to average in the low 70s.
"We're not going to break records but it is the type of heat waves you usually see once or twice each summer. It's not something people have never seen before," Kevin Fitzgerald, NWS meteorologist, said Tuesday.
Fitzgerald said temperatures Tuesday were probably close to the high for the year.
"This week, we will probably end up with the hottest day of the summer," Fitzgerald said.
The Pottsville and Mahanoy City centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Friday. The centers in Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah and Tremont have regular hours from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Georgene Fedoriska, executive director of the county Office of Senior Services, said there are plenty of activities at the senior centers.
"It's a community center where people can come out and meet other people," Fedoriska said.
Pinochle is always a popular activity at the center. On Tuesday, eight people were taking turns at the card table.
Ed Zelonis, Minersville, can often be found at the card table on any given afternoon.
"I first came to the center about five years ago to socialize because I live alone," Zelonis said.
He said he doesn't have air conditioning at his house and will probably remain at the center until the last game of the night.
Margie Heffner, Pottsville, said she has been coming to the center for eight years after spending several years there working and volunteering.
"It gets more people out to associate with other people. It's something to do," Heffner said.
Fedoriska said the hours at the centers will be re-evaluated again at the end of the week and extended hours may continue.
Renovated just a few years ago, the Pottsville Senior Community Center, 201 N. Centre St., is open Monday through Friday. The center has a piano, several computers, Wi-Fi, daily lunch, television, group activities and various educational programs.
Activities are open to anyone wishing to participate. Lunch is served daily at 11:30 a.m. For those age 60 and above, there is a suggested donation of $2.50. For others, lunch is $3.50.
"It's also an awesome place to volunteer," Leahy said. "There's a whole host of opportunities to volunteer. People who volunteer and are active are healthier into their later years."
The center will have a presentation by the North Central Highway Safety Network at 10:30 today. A safety expert will have a refresher course on the rules of the road and highlight recent changes to motor laws.
On July 24, Senior Crime Prevention University will feature a representative from the attorney general's office addressing current issues, such as home improvement rip-offs, foreign lottery schemes, telemarketing fraud and sweepstakes scams.
For more information, call the Pottsville Senior Community Center at 570-628-3515 or visit the Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services' website at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us.
HOT WEATHER SAFETY TIPS
The following tips and links can help you and your loved ones stay safe during dangerous heat waves.
- Stay indoors in air conditioning as much as possible or go to places with air conditioning, such as schools, libraries, theaters, senior center or shopping malls.
- Drink plenty of water during the day - don't wait until you are thirsty.
- Outdoor workers should drink between two and four cups of water every hour while working.
- Avoid drinks with caffeine, alcohol or large amounts of sugar.
- Limit your outdoor activity to mornings and evenings and rest often in the shade.
- Wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothing, a hat, sunglasses and a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.
- Check on those who may be more at-risk from high temperatures, such as infants and young children, people over the age of 65 and people with chronic medical conditions.
- Never leave your children or pets in a vehicle.
- Know the following symptoms of heat stroke: an extremely high body temperature above 103 degrees; red, hot and dry skin with no sweating; rapid, strong pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and unconsciousness.
- If you think someone has heat stroke, call for emergency medical attention, get the victim to a shady area and cool the person rapidly (put them in a tub of cool water, place them in a cool shower, spray them with a garden hose, sponge them with cool water). Do not give the victim any fluids to drink.
- To learn more about staying safe during extremely hot weather, visit emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health