Cooling Center Opens In Manassas As Temperatures Soar

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA ? Temperatures are soaring in Prince William County. To help residents cope with the heat, the county's libraries are available as cooling centers.

On Friday and Saturday, the Pat White Center at Ben Lomond will also be open for those looking to escape the heat.

On Facebook, the Prince William County government said it focuses on cooling resources when temperatures reach 95 degrees or the heat index reaches 100.

On Friday, high temperatures will reach around 95 degrees with a heat index of about 101.

On Saturday, there could be a high of 98 degrees with a heat index of 103.

Here are the locations of cooling centers around Prince William County:

• Pat White Center at Ben Lomond Park
  • 10501 Copeland Dr, Manassas, VA 20109
• Central Library
  • 8601 Mathis Avenue, Manassas, VA 20110?5270
• Chinn Park Library
  • 13065 Chinn Park Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192?5073
• Dale City Library
  • 4249 Dale Boulevard, Dale City, VA 22193
• Dumfries Library
  • 18115 Triangle Shopping Plaza, Dumfries, VA 22026?2579
• Independent Hill Library
  • George Hellwig Memorial Park, 14418 Bristow Road, Manassas, VA 20112?3932
• Lake Ridge Library
  • Tackett's Mill Shopping Center (Upper Level) 2239 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge, VA 22192-3007
• Manassas City Library
  • 10104 Dumfries Road, Manassas, VA 20110
• Montclair Library
  • 5049 Waterway Drive, Dumfries, VA 22025-1259
• Nokesville Library
  • 12993 Fitzwater Drive, Nokesville, VA 20181-2229
• Potomac Library
  • 2201 Opitz Boulevard, Woodbridge, VA 22191-3309

Prolonged exposure to excessive heat can cause heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion, cramps, or heat stroke. A heat-related illness can result from the body heating too quickly and not being able to properly cool itself or through dehydration or sweating. Local officials are encouraging residents to limit exposure to the sun, stay indoors, drink plenty of water, and wear loose, lightweight, and light-colored clothing.

Heat exhaustion can involve symptoms like heavy sweating, weakness or tiredness, cool and clammy skin, fast and weak pulse, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache or fainting. A person experiencing heat exhaustion should be moved to a cooler area and given cool, wet cloths or a cool bath.

Heat stroke is considered more serious and can involve a throbbing headache; confusion; nausea; dizziness; body temperature above 103 degrees; hot, red, dry or damp skin; rapid and strong pulse; or fainting. In this case, call 911 or take the person to a hospital immediately while moving the person to a cooler area and using cool clothes or bath. A person experiencing heat stroke should not be given fluids.

Residents can learn more about heat-related illness symptoms and how to respond from the National Weather Service.

Here is the upcoming weather forecast:

• Friday: Sunny, with a high near 96 and low around 75.
• Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99 and low near 77.
• Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100 and low around 78.