BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Amid high temperatures and even higher heat indexes, it's important to know how to cool down and relieve heat stress.
However, the Lehigh Valley is underprepared for the extreme temperatures, an expert said.
- Cooling centers or cooling stations are designated places where people can go to cool down
- There are almost no formal cooling centers in the Lehigh Valley designated by municipalities
- There will be "loss of life" due to unpreparedness, said Chrysan Cronin, associate professor of public health at Muhlenberg College
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the Lehigh Valley, in effect from 11 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday, with heat index values up to 104 degrees expected.
Chrysan Cronin, director and associate professor at Muhlenberg College’s public health program, said the Lehigh Valley is “not prepared enough” for the coming extreme heat.
“It's not something that's going to happen in the future — it's something that's happening now."Chrysan Cronin, director and associate professor at Muhlenberg College’s public health program
As climate change progresses, the Lehigh Valley is heating up, and that will only become more of a concern, Cronin said.
“It's not something that's going to happen in the future — it's something that's happening now," she said.
"And if we don't act, we're gonna have loss of life. And we could have prevented it if we had just been better prepared.”
No designated cooling stations
The valley has no designated cooling centers or cooling stations — places where people can go to cool down, often in air conditioning. Such centers could be run by a government or just be places open to the public, such as a café or mall.
Pools and spray parks also can serve the purpose of relieving heat stress, though they can be less accessible to some at-risk populations, such as children, the unhoused and the elderly, experts said.
“You have to think about the process of preparedness, and you can't just, all of a sudden, open up a cooling center and expect that people are going to even know what that means."Chrysan Cronin, director and associate professor at Muhlenberg College’s public health program
Cronin explained some hurdles to getting people into cooling centers.
“You have to think about the process of preparedness, and you can't just, all of a sudden, open up a cooling center and expect that people are going to even know what that means,” Cronin said.
“Some of the potential barriers to access might be access to transportation. Or some people might be afraid to leave home, or maybe they're not even able to leave the house.”
She also said people don’t know the dangers of heat stress. It is the leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the United States.
“It is not just something for old people, but I think that's often a misconception that it is and so people have a tendency, tendency not to say or not to go stay at one of those,” Cronin said.
In addition, Cronin said there's limited funding at the state level and no county health bureaus, so it can be very difficult for municipalities to get cooling centers set up.
Where to cool off
The United Way has a map of cooling centers statewide, but none in the Lehigh Valley is registered. The closest is the Riegelsville Public Library in Bucks County.
A representative for the state Health Department said cooling centers are not organized at the state level and suggested reach out to local officials.
Northampton County assists municipalities with assembling their cooling centers, but they did not immediately provide a list. The county originally said to check back later in summer.
Lehigh County does not organize any cooling centers, according to Public Information Officer Adrianna Calderon.
"If we don't act, we're gonna have loss of life. And we could have prevented it if we had just been better prepared.”Chrysan Cronin, director of public health at Muhlenberg College
Allentown doesn't organize any cooling centers, either, said Genesis Ortega, the city’s communications manager.
However, in an emailed, Ortega said, “Anyone, especially older adults, in need of air conditioning in Allentown can visit the Allentown Public Library (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) or the Lehigh Valley Active Life Center (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.).”
Rick Daugherty, executive director of Lehigh Valley Active Life, said, “In the past, we’ve partnered with Lehigh County to be an emergency cooling center. I haven’t gotten that phone call yet.”
Ortega said Allentown also operates three spray parks at no cost to residents.
They are at Old Fairgrounds, Bucky Boyle and Valania parks.
During extreme heat conditions, the city also has increased pool accessibility for residents, and the fire department typically sets up cooling stations — a sprinkler system — at varying locations, Ortega said.
Allentown also will offer residents free admission to Mack Pool on Thursday, July 27, and Friday, July 28, Ortega said. Regular rates will apply to non-residents and at Cedar Beach Pool. City pools are open from 12-7 p.m.
Officials from Bethlehem and Easton did not respond to requests for comment.
