Campers stay cool during extreme heat
TOPEKA (KSNT) - With temperatures hitting triple digits on Monday, June 24, it's feeling like summer and then some. For campers with Shawnee County Parks and Recreation, it's important to stay safe in this extreme heat while having fun doing it.
"We start doing a little bit low-key activities," Parks and Rec. Program Supervisor Clay Neal said. "A little bit more arts stuff like that, just low-key, get them in the shade. Get them inside and cool, air condition. Then we go swimming in the afternoon, get them in the pool, the kids love doing that."
Adding water breaks and reducing activity time is also key in making sure kids stay safe and hydrated when we see this level of heat.
"Now if it does get hotter maybe instead of doing 30 minutes for an activity, may go 15 minutes, do a water break, rest for a second, get plenty of fluid in us then go forward and finish out the game for the next 15 minutes," Neal said.
As for the counselors, making sure their campers stay cool is a priority. Even if the kids say they don't want to.
"A lot of the kids, like you said, they are resilient," Camp Counselor Gabby Martinez said. "They don't want sunscreen, don't want water, but we tell them it's really not optional. Have your water. Also knowing the kid's individual personalities, some kids definitely need more time in the shade where some can kind of go longer. So it really just varies from kid to kid."
It's not only important for the campers to stay safe, but for the counselors too.
"Not just the kids, but making sure the counselors are using sunscreen, hydrating, also when we go home get a good rest. All that stuff," Martinez said.
Clay tells 27 News when temperatures get like what we saw Monday, June 24, kids need to eat a good lunch with fruits and vegetables. Because with all the physical activities, they need to be well-fed to fuel that energy.
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