With temperatures rising, people in central Georgia are finding ways to enjoy the sun safely.
MACON, Ga. — It’s getting warmer in central Georgia and we’re officially in meteorological summer. But that doesn’t mean people have to stay inside.
At Tattnall Square Park, pickleball tournaments are played in the heat, and Mary Hilson wants to keep it that way.
“I don’t want to stay inside, look at all these people out here. “This is an amazing game, and I mean, you can’t meet people just sitting on the couch,” Hilson said.
Hilson is one of many players who will do whatever it takes to get out on the court even during the heat. Therefore, he dresses to stay cool while playing.
“I have my cooling sleeves. “It helps protect you from the sun and it also helps keep you cool and my cooling towel that I dip in cold water from time to time,” Hilson said.
Many people go to court simply to watch the action. They set up tents, bring fresh snacks, fans and plenty of water. Kim Wright said she would rather be outside at a tournament than stay inside.
“If we’re inside, my kids are in their rooms on their phones. But when we’re here playing pickleball, we play together…I’ll probably brave the heat for that,” Wright said.
The American Red Cross has some safety tips for summer weather. They recommend avoiding going out during the hottest hours of the day, wearing loose, light clothing, and checking on your furry friends frequently when they are outside.
When it comes to thermal safety, Kazumi Chino said people should pay the same attention to pets.
“We are responsible for them. We are responsible for protecting them, keeping them safe from overheating. They give us so much love that it’s the least we can do for them,” Chino said.
Chakeatha Reese would prefer to stay inside.
“Oh yeah, I love staying inside with my air conditioning. I love my air conditioning,” Reese said.
That said, she still thinks it’s important for kids to go out.
“Take the kids to do something fun with them. Otherwise, they’ll be in the house too,” Reese said.
Reese said he didn’t want to go to the community pools because of the crowds.
“They have it all to themselves, they can run from here or from there. Are they having fun? Yeah, that’s good,” Reese said.
The Red Cross said if people don’t take precautions during the warm months, they could suffer heat illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heatstroke.
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