Red Cross opens cooling stations

by CARA SPAZIANI

MARTINSBURG - With temperatures pushing 100 degrees Wednesday, the Berkeley County Chapter of the American Red Cross was offering its services to help prevent heat-related illnesses.

The American Red Cross provided two cooling stations, one at the Berkeley County Chapter from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one at the Martinsburg Mall from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

"It is common practice for the American Red Cross to open cooling stations whenever the temperatures reach dangerous levels," said Claire Panek, an American Red Cross volunteer.

Panek said anyone can come to the cooling stations, which provide a place for the public to come for a few hours and enjoy a cold drink. Often, people without homes or air conditioning can rest at the cooling stations for a little while to get out of the heat,

The cooling stations provided water, lemonade and pastries to those who dropped by for a visit Wednesday. Cots were also available for anyone who felt sick and needed to lay down, Panek said.

But as of Wednesday afternoon, no one had visited the Berkeley County Chapter, and no calls relating to the heat had been received by the Berkeley County Office of Emergency Services.

"We expect to get the worst of it around 2 or 3 o'clock," Panek said.

People were visiting the cooling station at the community room at the Martinsburg Mall, however.

Gloria Jefferson, an American Red Cross volunteer who had been staffing the cooling station since noon, said approximately 10 people came to receive water and lemonade.

"When I see people breathing heavy and walking toward me, I ask them if they'd like a drink of water," Jefferson said.

"They tell you even when you aren't thirsty to drink water. You don't want anything creeping up on you."

The Jefferson-Morgan Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross had not been asked to provide services to the public, but it did have volunteers on staff in the event they were called on to do so.

"I would speculate we haven't been called upon to provide services because of the difference in population," said Mickey Johnson, the Jefferson-Morgan Counties program director.

The Berkeley County Chapter will also provide cooling stations today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at the Martinsburg Mall from noon to 7 p.m.

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