Local ways to beat the heat

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – With extreme heat warnings in place, locals are looking for ways to escape the heat.

Yuma County has nine cooling centers that provide heat protection and access to drinking water in the Yuma area.

“Accessibility is 100% open and I think that’s especially important when you live in a place like Yuma,” says Rachel Williamson, a Yuma native.

Some of these stations are:

• Yuma Community Food Bank
• Mission of Crossroads
• First United Methodist Church
• Yuma County Main Library
• Yuma County Heritage Library Branch
• The Salvation Army
• Crossroads Mission Thrift Store
• Hope, Inc.
• National partners for public health care
• Yuma County Foothills Library Branch
• Wellton Library Branch in Yuma County

“I remember as kids we would actually ask our moms to drive us here or to Walmart so we could turn on the air conditioning. So when you live in a financially constrained household, it definitely helps take some of that pressure off,” Williamson said.

Meanwhile, an emergency room doctor at the local Yuma Regional Medical Center offered some advice on the best time to use these cooling centers.

“Use these cooling centers early. Many people wait until they feel like they're going to faint or become confused. In many cases, by then the cooling center is a good option for them,” said Dr. Casey Noroyan.

The Yuma County Main Library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.