OKLAHOMA CITY – As the temperatures heat up, chill down at local Cool Zones, sites designated where anyone can escape the summer heat and avoid heat-related health risks.  For seniors and others vulnerable to heat-related problems, a Cool Zone can be a lifesaver.
“We’ve partnered with organizations to designate more than 200 Cool Zone sites in approximately 80 communities across the OG&E service area,” said Brian Alford, OG&E spokesman. “Cool Zones, such as libraries, shopping centers and senior citizen centers, have opened their doors to offer relief for seniors and others who are at risk of heat stress.”
Cool Zones in the OG&E service territory can be found on the company’s website at oge.com or by calling OG&E’s call center at 1-800-272-9741.
Temperatures above 90 degrees can be very dangerous, especially when the humidity is also high. Proper precautions can help prevent heat-related illnesses::

• Keep Cool: Spend as much time as you can in cooler surroundings, such as a cooler room in your home.
• Air Conditioning: An air-conditioned site can provide lifesaving relief from heat stress, especially if you have a medical condition like heart disease.
• Cooling with Fans: Air movement reduces heat stress by helping to remove extra body heat.
• Baths and Showers: Cool baths or showers (with water temperature around 75 degrees) provide relief from the heat. Cool water removes extra body heat 25 times faster than cool air.
• Clothing: Wear lightweight, light colored, loose fitting clothing in hot weather. Wear a hat or use an umbrella to protect your head and neck when you are outdoors.

OG&E and local social service agencies first organized the Cool Zone program in 2001 to help raise public awareness about the health dangers caused by heat. OG&E worked with the following agencies in this effort: The Salvation Army, Areawide Aging Agency, the United Way of Metro Oklahoma City and the Metropolitan Library System, Metro Transit and the American Red Cross.
OG&E, a subsidiary of Oklahoma City-based OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE: OGE), serves more than 780,000 electric customers in a service area spanning 30,000 square miles, including about 65,000 customers in western Arkansas. OGE Energy also is the parent company of Enogex LLC, a midstream natural gas pipeline business with principal operations in Oklahoma.