NORMAL - James Anderson had a damp bandana around his neck and another one under his hard hat trying to keep cool Wednesday as the temperature topped 90 degrees. | Five-day forecast

"It kinda helps," said Anderson who has worked for Stark Excavating for 16 years and is currently helping build the wall of the water feature in the roundabout.

"You've got to keep water in you, too," he said. "You gotta watch it … if you wait until the last minute (when you feel thirsty), it's too late" because your body already is dehydrated.

Todd Casey, an Otto Baum Co. worker on the job at Holy Trinity Church in Bloomington, agreed.

"We drink plenty of water, wear light clothing and when necessary, take a break," he said.

Both crews typically work from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. but if it's unusually hot and everyone agrees, they might shut down early, Casey and Anderson said.

"Today there's more of a breeze," said Anderson, so it wasn't quite as bad as Tuesday.

The Central Illinois Regional Airport recorded a high of 91 degrees. The heat index was 94 degrees.

While water helped workers stay cool, they weren't the only ones turning to it on Wednesday. Dozens of kids and their parents flocked to the spray ground at Tipton Park in east Bloomington.

"We come here about once a week," said Angie Brown of Normal, who was with her kids Dylan, 6, Lauren, 8, and Addison, 2. "We do this over the pool. It's safer with a lot of kids. It's free so it's even better."

While the sun was hot, Lauren said the water was cold but "you get used to it."

She and Dylan like the bucket dump at the spray ground but it wasn't working so they played with a sprinkler.

The spray ground, pools and other cool places may be busy for the next few days.

Temperatures are expected to hover around 90 degrees through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Lincoln. There's a slight chance for thunderstorms today and again Saturday night, then slightly cooler weather - with temperatures in the lower 80s - may come into Central Illinois.

While the weather stays hot, the Illinois Department of Human Services said several cooling centers are available throughout Central Illinois including 1275 Illinois 54 East, Clinton; 700 Centennial Drive, Ottawa; 1550 Fourth Ave., Lincoln; 200 S. Second St., Pekin; and 501 W. Washington St., Bloomington.

The locations are open during regular business hours.

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Healthy in the heat

Following are tips from the American Red Cross for staying healthy in hot weather.

• Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning from 4 to 7 a.m.

• Stay indoors as much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine. Try to go to a public building with air conditioning each day for several hours. Remember, electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help sweat evaporate, which cools your body.

• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun's energy.

• Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool.

• Water is the safest liquid to drink during heat emergencies. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make you feel good briefly, but make the heat's effects on your body worse. This is especially true about beer, which dehydrates the body.

• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat.

• Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.

SOURCE: American Red Cross Web site

Related

• Severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 7 p.m.