STAYING COOL; SUMMER PREDICTION: 'HOT'

Barbara Port knows hot: Her historic, three-story home in downtown Cape Girardeau has no air conditioning.

"We have 11-foot ceilings and ceiling fans throughout," she explained.

In the fashion of years gone by, she opens the windows and draperies in the morning to capture early morning cool, closes the house in the heat of the day and reopens it in the evening.

"By evening it's bearable, even upstairs," she said. "It's not so bad, really."

However, the Ports are in the minority when it comes to air-conditioned comfort.

Today 64 percent of American homes have air conditioners, and about 8 million new air conditioners are sold in the U.S. annually, making air conditioning the most popular way to beat the heat.

The summer weather prediction won't come as a surprise to most who live in Southeast Missouri: Expect hot and humid conditions through September.

The National Weather Service predicts a very typical weather pattern through Tuesday with highs close to 90 degrees, lows around 70 degrees and a chance of afternoon or evening thunderstorms.

The predication through the end of July calls for those same near-normal temperatures.

Even for those with air-conditioned homes, summer heat can be a serious health concern.

Last year in Missouri 12 people died from heat. Another 470 Missourians experienced a heat-related illness in 1998.

Most at risk are the elderly, who have a diminished ability to perspire. In addition, infants, young children and people with chronic health problems, especially heart disease, are more vulnerable to the effects of heat.

Ron MacCubbin of the American Red Cross office in Cape Girardeau warned that people often underestimate heat and its effects.

"They get out in it and think they have lots of endurance," he said. "They don't realize how easily they dehydrate or how easy it is for the body to overheat."

MacCubbin said people often choose the wrong liquids to prevent dehydration. "People drink alcohol, and that's the worst thing. It actually pumps moisture right out of your body. The same is true with caffeine. The best thing to take is pure water."

At the same time, people should take care when exercising, playing or working outdoors.

"If you've got a chore you want to get done, you keep working without thinking you need to take a break," he cautioned. "And people should work during the cool parts of the day, not during the middle of the day."

Anytime the weather is predicted to reach temperatures above 90 degrees for several days in a row, the Red Cross begins to think of opening heat shelters. Cape Girardeau has several shelters ready to serve, including the city's Osage Centre and Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army has fans available for those in need, and donations of fans are being accepted. The East Missouri Action Agency is also soliciting air conditioners. Beverly Healthcare is donating fans to area elderly.

An official heat alert isn't needed before people should exert caution, MacCubbin said. Heat has a cumulative effect, which is compounded by high humidity.

"The temperatures don't have to be extremely high to cause concern, especially for those in high-risk groups. Any temperature over 85 can cause a concern," he said. "Take care and use good heat sense."

SAVE MONEY WHILE STAYING COOL

*Keep your air conditioner in the shade. If it's in the sun, build a wood shade screen for it, but don't block the air flow.

*Don't have your thermostat located on an exterior wall.

*Constantly moving the thermostat up and down throughout the day wastes energy and money and won't cool your home any faster.

*Set the thermostat as high as possible. The recommended energy efficient summer temperature is 78 degrees.

TIPS ON PREVENTING HEAT STRESS

*Drink lots of water, and avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages

*Avoid going out during the hottest part of the day

*Take cool baths or shoers

*Do not eat hevy meals

*Avoid using cooking ovens

*Wear loose, light cotton clothing

*Avoid or minimize physical exertion

*Stay in an air conditioned home or at a cooling center

*Check on your elderly family members, friends and neighbors