To help beat the heat, McHenry County residents can visit cooling centers, get assistance on road

With temperatures to feel as hot as 105 to 109 degrees Wednesday, cooling centers across McHenry County and the region are opening their doors.

A heat advisory is in effect for much of the northern region of Illinois, including McHenry County, until Wednesday night, with temperatures expected to be in the mid and upper 90s throughout the next few days, according to the National Weather Service.

High heat index values could also mean temperatures could feel even hotter, according to the advisory.

“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur,” according to the National Weather Service.

An excessive heat warning advising of “dangerously hot conditions” is in place for areas directly south of McHenry County, including DeKalb, Kane and Cook counties. The National Weather Service said heat index values there could reach between 106 and 110 degrees.

[ Check out more photos: Heat wave hits McHenry ]

Extreme heat and humidity significantly increases the potential for heat-related illness, in particular for those working or participating in activities outdoors.

McHenry parent Mark Broughman said he lives next door to the beach, where his kids took a trip Tuesday to beat the heat.

“The air conditioner’s running nonstop, and we’re not using the oven to cook,” he said. “We got a steady supply of popsicles.”

A few different services are being offered to people who need a place to get cool or need help while on the road.

Several locations across McHenry County are acting as cooling centers to offer people a respite from the heat. Among these locations are:

Illinois Tollway also launched a 24-hour hot weather patrol to help those with stranded or disabled vehicles on the side of the road, the agency said in a news release. Cellphone users can call *999 for motorist assistance and turn on their emergency lights.

“Protecting our customers is our highest priority, so during these dangerously hot conditions we’re adding these extra patrols to ensure we more rapidly find and assist any drivers who are stranded along our roads,” Illinois Tollway interim Executive Director Lanyea Griffin said in a news release Tuesday.

As a precaution, the National Weather Service recommended people drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms and out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors.

Other precautions include rescheduling certain activities for early morning or evening, wearing loose-fitting clothes and scheduling several breaks, according to the advisory. Young children and pets should not be left unattended in vehicles in any case.