NONE LIKE IT HOT; RESIDENTS SEARCH FOR COOL WAYS OF COPING WITH HEAT WAVE.Byline: Romy Jacobson Daily News Staff Writer With temperatures this week soaring to well above the 100 mark, Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley residents are escaping to the confines of air-conditioned facilities as they fight the withering with·er·ing adj. Tending to overwhelm or destroy; devastating: withering sarcasm. with heat. ``We were going to go to the Santa Barbara Zoo The Santa Barbara Zoo is located on 30 acres near the ocean in Santa Barbara, California. It was formerly known as the Child's Estate Zoo. The zoo has been ranked numerous times as one of the nation's best small zoos. and we said no,'' said Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, resident Kim Sisneros, who opted to bring her 4-year-old daughter, Cassandra, and her 4-week-old daughter, Alexa, to Discovery Zone, an indoor play area in Palmdale. ``You've got to get out and do stuff.'' ``The kids go crazy indoors,'' added Sisneros' friend, Carla Purzak, who brought her 3-year-old daughter, Marissa. ``If you don't wear them out they don't take a nap and then their pregnant mommy doesn't get to take a nap.'' Employees at Discovery Zone say they've had at least 200 kids more per day since the heat wave began. On Friday, temperatures reached 111 degrees in Quartz Hill, 108 degrees in Lancaster and 106 degrees in Palmdale, with similar readings expected today. Other residents have been working up a sweat indoors, said Brent Hodeman, manager of 24 Hour Fitness Center in west Palmdale. ``Instead of walking, running and sweating where it's hot outside, they come in because it's a cool, comfortable, controlled environment,'' Hodeman said. ``They don't run the risk of dehydration dehydration Method of food preservation in which moisture (primarily water) is removed. Dehydration inhibits the growth of microorganisms and often reduces the bulk of food. and sunburn sunburn, inflammation of the skin caused by actinic rays from the sun or artificial sources. Moderate exposure to ultraviolet radiation is followed by a red blush, but severe exposure may result in blisters, pain, and constitutional symptoms. .'' 99 Cent Store manager Barbara Stevenson found a way to make sleeping during the heat wave a bit more comfortable. ``I soak a short, cotton dress in water, wring wring v. wrung , wring·ing, wrings v.tr. 1. To twist, squeeze, or compress, especially so as to extract liquid. Often used with out. 2. it out and put it on at night,'' Stevenson said. ``It keeps me cool all night.'' Temperatures will continue to hover in the 105 to 115 degree range possibly through Monday or Tuesday in the Antelope Valley, said Dennis Tussey, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. The mercury hit 108 in Santa Clarita, with 109 predicted for today. Smog, too, is in Santa Clarita's forecast. ``It's going to be sunny and hot,'' Tussey said. ``We have put out heat advisories today. Those include trying to avoid outdoor activities as much as possible, wearing lightweight and light-colored clothing and drink plenty of fluids.'' |
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