Community Most at Risk Deals With Scalding Temperatures

Rockford, IL - "I`ll put it on the floor and lay on the floor with it because I can`t take this heat," says 73-year-old Joyce Akre. Akre picked up a window fan from the Northwestern Area Agency on Aging just like dozens of other Rockford seniors on Monday afternoon. Thanks to a $625 state grant the agency was able to buy 80 fans for people who need to keep cool the most. "It gets pretty bad," says Akre, "I get dizzy and can`t hardly walk at times. I`ve been passing out and had to go to the hospital a couple times this week by the police." "Seniors have less ability to deal with high temperatures," says Bob Cleveland, Resource Center Director at the Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging. "Their body doesn`t react the same way a younger person`s would." Fans, sprinklers, and especially air conditioners flew off the shelves at local businesses. "The heat has increased sales in fans and sprinklers and hoses and anything to do with keeping things cool," says John Zanocco who works at ACE Hardware. Stateline residents also dipped deeper into the water supply. Local water departments have seen their water usage nearly double in the past two days. Local hospitals saw a few people for heat-related illnesses. SwedishAmerican had three cases of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. "The hospital bills could be considerably higher than turning up the air conditioner a little bit," says Cleveland. All of the fans at the Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging are spoken for. The agency is now looking for donations. To make a donation, call (815) 226-4901.