As heat indexes rise to near triple digits, Cranston residents have been breaking a sweat trying to stay cool. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory, from noon Wednesday to 7 p.m. Friday, due to rising temperatures and high humidity.

The City of Cranston designated its senior centers and libraries as cooling centers to help city residents beat the heat. These buildings are open to the public during their regular hours this week. However, in observance of the federal holiday Juneteenth, all city facilities, including the libraries and senior center, will be closed on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the Central Library is open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., and the Senior Center is operating between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Edward Garcia, library director of the Cranston Public Library, says that circulation picks up during the summer months as the library becomes a place for public access to air conditioning.

Various indoor events and programs cater to people of all ages at the library. For example, the library hosted an American Girl Doll Tea Party on Tuesday for school-aged children and frequently has storytime in the Children’s Room. Events on Thursday this week include seaside storytime at the Central Library and dinosaur projects at the Auburn branch.

For Garcia, the heat wave hasn’t changed much about the Library’s operations. Tuesday was busy, which is typical during the summer months, he said.

“Most people come in just to get cool,” he said. Multiple CPL buildings — including the Central Library — have water bottle fillers, which are key as the heat index rises.

The heat can be unbearable for some residents, especially the elderly and those who live in multi-family homes. For residents without reliable air conditioning, these cooling centers can be places of refuge.

A spokesman for Cranston Mayor Kenneth Hopkins’s office said that they are “happy to do what we can” during the high temperatures this week.

Parents are looking for places to take their children that have shaded areas to get out of the sun. Many families are flocking to Roger Williams Park & Zoo, which has a water play area for children to cool off from the heat. Jamie Hanley, who was visiting the Zoo, says she is trying to stay in the shade, do outdoor activities during the cooler mornings, and apply a lot of sunscreen. She remarked that last June it was cooler with more precipitation compared to this year.

Joseph Wendelken, public information officer at the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), recommended that residents prepare for the heat.

“If outside, do what you can to stay out of the direct sun, wear a hat with a brim, and apply sunscreen,” he said.

“Water is key,” Wendelken added, suggesting people should avoid caffeine and alcohol.

“I think for most people, it's an inconvenience,” said Tony Petrarca, chief meteorologist for WPRI-TV. “But, there are certain people and specifically young children, the elderly, people who have health issues, it becomes more of a concern.”

“What makes heat around here dangerous is that it comes with a lot of humidity,” he added. “Your body has a very difficult time cooling itself off where the humidity is high.”

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can often occur during a heat advisory. Symptoms include heavy sweating, paleness, clammy skin, nausea and vomiting. If someone is experiencing heat exhaustion, it is important to move them to a cool palace, Wendelken said. If symptoms worsen, he recommends those in need call emergency services at 911.

“Just check in on each other,” he added. “Make sure they stay hydrated.”

Beverly Wiley, Director of Parks and Recreation in Warwick, notes that the beaches in Warwick often get visitors from various other cities and towns. The Warwick beaches opened for the summer season on Saturday, June 15. There are lifeguards working at City Park Beach and Oakland Beach. These beaches can be a more convenient and less expensive option than those in South County.

For those who prefer a pool to the beach, Warwick’s McDermott Pool is open during their regular hours. McDermott has a unique indoor/outdoor element because the garage doors can be opened for airflow, Wiley said.

Petrarca warned this current heat wave “can be a signal of things to come.”

It’s not rare for temperatures to climb into the 90s — it happens about half a dozen times each summer.

But, “It may be more frequent this summer,” he added. “We're anticipating a warmer-than-average summer.”