Sunday, July 04, 1999
Weekend packs triple threat
River alert joins smog, heat notices
BY TIM BONFIELD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The health police issued plenty of watch-out-for-the-weather warnings Saturday, but still failed to suck the fun out of the Fourth of July weekend.
Tristate residents faced a triple whammy of warnings: a heat alert, a smog alert and a warning about unhealthy bacteria in the Ohio River.
Yet in the full-blast of 90-degree heat, six of the seven outdoor tennis courts were filled at the Queen City Racquet & Fitness Club in Sharonville.
Tee times were booked solid through 4:30 p.m. at the Miami Whitewater golf course.
And an armada of pleasure boats cruised past downtown on the Ohio River.
“This is why they call it summer,” said Florence resident John Rossi as he joined a half-dozen friends in a 20-foot Wellcraft casting off Saturday from the Schmidt Field boat ramp, east of downtown.
Despite increased health risks from heat and smoggy air, paramedics and hospitals reported no more than a smattering of heat-related cases.
So are the health warnings going overboard?
“The important thing isn't necessarily to stop people from doing the things they want to do on the holiday weekend. The point is to remind people to be alert and on the cautious side,” said Cincinnati Health Commissioner Malcolm Adcock.
Tips from health officials like “drink plenty of water” or “don't leave children unattended in closed vehicles” might sound obvious to some. But the elderly, children and people with chronic respiratory disease do face increased health risks in hot, smoggy weather.
“And every year, we hear about children dying in closed up cars,” Dr. Adcock said.
So be warned: The National Weather Service predicts temperatures in the mid-90s for the Fourth of July and a heat index (which factors in humidity) pushing 105 degrees.
With a heat alert on, Cincinnati recreation centers will be open as “cool centers.” Call 352-4001 for locations.
A smog alert remains in effect for today and Monday.
Cincinnati.com Weather Page
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