Tulare County declares heat advisory warning

Wednesday’s daytime triple-digit temperature had many Porterville children scurrying to Murray Park and into the Porterville City Pool to cool down. By noon Wednesday, more than a dozen children waited for the doors to open.

Johnny Garcia of Porterville attended with six children, ages 6 to 13.

“I bring my Godchild and nephews and children whenever I can,” Garcia said. “Whenever they feel like coming, if I can do it, I’ll bring them.”

The alternative on hot days is staying home and staying indoors, he said.

Tammy Schroeder, a former Porterville resident who recently moved back from Hawaii, also enjoyed a day at the City Pool with her two children, ages 3 and 10.

“I don’t let them go to the lake,” Schroeder said. “So this is a nice option and a way to cool down. We lived in Hawaii, but this is what we have here. There’s not a whole lot for kids to do in this heat. This, and Giovanni’s [Pizzarea and Arcade] is the only other thing to do with kids here.”

Nearby, Jesus Coralles, 8, and Jazmine Sanchez, 13, played in the water as dozens of other children splashed, jumped, swam, dived off the diving board, slid down a large twisting slide, or stood and played under various water contraptions that dumped water on squealing children as adults watched from the sidelines or from the shaded picnic and resting areas.

Though the pool capacity is 280, an approximate 300 to 330 people are allowed in, said Anna Griggs, assistant manager of the pool.

“They don’t all swim. We have a lot of parents in the shaded areas so we can let more in,” Griggs said. “Usually by 2 p.m., we are at full capacity. On weekends, we have to shut the doors and turn people away. As people leave, we can let more in. Usually they line up and wait all day.”

Out at the park, Matthew Velasquez, 10, sat with a group of approximately 8 children enjoying a picnic lunch under large trees.

“We just got out of Vacation Bible School at Zion Lutheran,” said Aaron Gates. “We usually have lunch in the shade and then will go swimming.”

Porterville Municipal Pool charges $2 for adults, whether they swim or not, and $1 for youth, age 12 and younger. They are open seven days a week — 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. weekdays, and 1 to 5 p.m. weekends. Family Swim is offered from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday. and 6:15 to 9 p.m. Fridays. Admission for Family Swim is 50 cents for youth with an adult, and $1.50 for youth without adults and for adults.

Dive-In Theatre, watching a movie from within the swimming pool, will replace Family Swim on July 22 and 29 and Aug. 5 and 8.

Water Aerobics cost $2 a class and are offered from 6 to 7 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday through Sept. 3. The City Pool can also be reserved for exclusive use.

Heat Advisory:

The county has been experiencing a sharp increase in daytime high temperatures coinciding with the beginning of summer and county health officials with the Tulare County Office of Emergency Services are reporting that a heat-safety advisory is in affect.

Wednesday temperatures reached 106 degrees in Porterville said Gary Sanger, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford.

On Thursday the temperatures are predicted to reach 104 degrees, with good overnight temperature recovery with lows in the 70s.

Temperatures are expected to return to the 90s by Friday.

Air Quality during hot days:

Detiorating air quality is also expected Valley wide for the next few days, said air officials at San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and the public is asked to take note of local air quality and take appropriate precautionary measures.

“It’s important to learn how to protect yourself from high ozone, and also to reduce emissions that cause it,” said Samir Sheikh, director of the Air District’s Strategies and Incentives Department, which includes Air Quality Analysis.

Ozone — or smog —is formed when pollutants mix in heat and sunlight, and is corrosive to tissue. People with respiratory disease, young children and elderly people are particularly susceptible to increased ozone levels. Some of the effects of high ozone are burning eyes, tightness in the chest, and difficulty breathing.

A daily air quality forecast is issued by the County at 4:30 p.m. and available online at www.valleyair.org or by calling 1-800-SMOG INFO (766-4463)

In the Valley, the Air District encourages people to reduce their vehicle use which is a major source of the emissions that create ozone. People are asked to carpool, vanpool, use public transportation, take a lunch to work or order in, and schedule errands to do at one time.Other Healthy Air Living tips include postponing using gas-powered lawn care equipment.

For more information, call the Fresno regional office at 230-6000 or Bakersfield regional office at 392-5500.