Agencies circulate fans to Douglas County residents

Jared Barton, Douglas County Human Resources coordinator for ECKAN, picked up 10 fans on Tuesday at Penn House, 1035 Pa. Both Penn House and ECKAN are distributing fans to families in need this summer.

Heat advisory in effect today

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory today for Douglas and surrounding counties. The advisory will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The combination of high temperatures in the 90s and dewpoint temperatures in the mid-70s will cause heat index readings to be between 105 and 110 degrees.

Prolonged exposure to heat index readings above 105 degrees can cause rapid dehydration, exhaustion and heat stroke.

Dr. Kevin Giblin, a Lawrence Memorial Hospital emergency room physician, offered these safety tips:

• Wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothes

• Increase intake of carbohydrates and lower protein intake

• Drink a lot of fluids

He said common symptoms of heat exhaustion or stroke include cessation of sweating, light-headedness, muscle cramps, weakness, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. If you have these symptoms, get out of the heat, slowly cool down with a damp towel and drink water.

If symptoms persist, go to the hospital.

With heat indices expected to range above 100 this week, local nonprofit organizations are doing their part to keep people cool.

Penn House, an agency that helps provide food, clothing and other assistance to families in need, will be handing out 40 fans this week.

The fans were donated to the agency by Warm Hearts of Douglas County, another nonprofit that helps those in need. Vicki Penner, president of the Warm Hearts board, said the agency always assists families with heating bills during the winter, but that it wanted to do something extra this summer. Penner said she hoped the fans would provide some relief to those without air conditioning and proper ventilation.

Linda Lassen, program director for Penn House, 1035 Pa., said the fans were important because many families can’t afford to buy them. She said the agency is doing its best to supply all of those in need but that more donations are vital.

“Fans are in high demand right now,” Lassen said. “I’ve already had six people this month ask for fans and we didn’t have any.”

However, thanks to the donation from Warm Hearts, Penn House and other local agencies are trying to meet that demand. The fans are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The agency has already given away a couple of the fans as well as provided 10 to the agency ECKAN.

Also trying to meet the demand is the Lawrence Salvation Army. The center’s “Cans & Fans” food and fan drive will be accepting donations until the end of the month. For more information, or to make a donation online, visit Wellcommons.com and search for the Cans & Fans — Food and Fan Drive. Donations can also be dropped off at the Journal-World circulation desk, 609 N.H., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or at the Salvation Army, 946 N.H.