Philadelphia Residents Swelter During Fourth Day Of High Temperatures
By Jenn Bernstein
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphians braced for another day of extreme heat. Today marks the fourth day of temperatures rising into the 90s.
All around the city, people tried to stay cool. Lawrence Street in Philadelphia is one of many designated "Play Streets" in the city. The hydrant was capped, and it became a welcome sprinkler for children in the neighborhood.
"The kids really enjoy it," said Fran Sokolowski, "It's really hot, it's really nice."
At P&F Giordano's in the Italian Market, employees worked hard to make sure food stayed fresh.
"We just keep rotating everything. We keep everything refrigerated as much as possible, and keep as little out as much as we can," said Giordano.
Temperatures felt like they were in the triple digits on this fourth heat wave of the summer. It posed a challenge for Anthem Propane Tank delivery driver Mark Robbins as he dropped off an order in South Philadelphia.
"It's a great day, it's hot!" said Robbins, who was hauling tanks that weigh 55 pounds each. "The only thing to do is stay inside in air conditioning, stay off the road."
While folks tried to find ways to deal with the extreme weather, the focus at the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging's HEATLINE Call Center is to make sure anyone who needs advice or assistance can get it. When the National Weather Service declares a heat warning, the PCA pairs up with Philadelphia's Department of Public Health to activate the HEATLINE. This call center normally acts as a resource for seniors, but once the heat wave is in effect, anyone is encouraged to call for help.
"What we hear, mainly, is people want tips on how to keep cool, because this is a lot of days of being hot this summer," said PCA's Helpline Director Chris Gallagher.
The Department of Public Health provides a nurse, who can also dispatch a mobile unit if a resident is in distress.
"The calls that we get that go to the nurse are very important ones," says Gallagher. "That's somebody experiencing a medical condition that needs to be addressed."
You can reach the HEATLINE at 215-765-9040. It will be open until midnight.
