Staying cool at the pool

For the many patrons at Hoffman Municipal Pool on Thursday afternoon, this summer’s warm and dry conditions have made splashing in the pool at 525 E. Williams Ave. an ideal and exciting spot to spend their free time. With a heat advisory issued for today through Saturday evening, the bevy of activity in the water is likely to continue this weekend. 

“I’ve been here every day this summer,” 15-year-old Zayne Bishop of Bellefontaine remarked Thursday before taking another jump off the high dive. 

“My kids love coming here,” DeGraff resident Erin Lewis said of her children, Derrick Suttles Jr., 3, and Lexus Suttles, 5. “We’ve gotten a lot of use out of our family membership this year. We’ve been bringing them to swim here since they were babies.”

Officials from Bellefontaine Joint Parks and Recreation District said the hot and muggy weather the past two months have been a sharp contrast from the cooler summers experienced in recent years. These conditions have helped provide a major boost in pool attendance, but in the midst of the crowds, the exact figures had not been tabulated for this point in the season. 

“We have been so busy at the pool this year, and are looking much better from a revenue standpoint,” Parks Superintendent Kris Myers said. 

“While we’ve been keeping track of our attendance each day, we’ve actually been so busy that we haven’t added all of the numbers into our spreadsheet yet to see what our totals are.”

To keep up with the plethora of patrons, new lifeguards have been added to the staff this year through training conducted in the spring. A total of 29 lifeguards are now staffing the facility for the season that runs through Aug. 14, Mr. Myers said.  

With temperatures in the lower 90s and heat indexes expected to climb just over 100 degrees during the advisory, Head Lifeguard Michaela Wasson said the pool staff members are offered a number of ways to stay cool. 

“Each of the lifeguards has their own umbrella to provide some shade, and we have plenty of water on hand. We also really enjoy eating frozen fruit.

“This weekend is gonna be a good one,” she added.

In a press release, Logan County Health Commissioner Boyd Hoddinott also urged residents to take precautions, as these conditions make it necessary for heightened awareness of the danger and risk associated with heat exposure.

He said heat exhaustion, heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses are possible, especially for people who spend a significant amount of time outdoors or are involved in strenuous outdoor activity.

The health district recommends the following tips to beat the heat:

• Wear loose-fitting and light-colored clothing.  

• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic beverages to prevent dehydration and eat light meals.

• Avoid strenuous activities during the hottest part of the day, which is typically between 1 and 6 p.m.

• Remember that the elderly, the infirm and the very young are most susceptible to heat-related health problems. Be sure to check on elderly neighbors and relatives.

• Make provisions for pets and animals by ensuring they have plenty of cool water to drink and shade in which to rest.

• Never leave a child or animal unattended in a vehicle for any length of time, especially on a hot day. During the summer, vehicles can become dangerously hot, even if the windows are left open.