Sunshine and snow cones: Tri-Citians beat heat at Water Follies

Temperatures were already well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit at noon. The high for the day was set to be 103.

“It’s going to be a scorcher today,” said Michael Smith, one of many who took shelter Friday in the shade below trees at the Water Follies in Columbia Park.

Smith, who lives in Richland, came out to see the boat races with his two daughters and a friend of theirs, but didn’t know how long they would stick around.

“We’re just going to stay a few hours then hit the pool,” he said. “I can already tell it’s going to be too hot today.”

The annual Water Follies celebration continues through Sunday, with tens of thousands expected to show up and enjoy the hydroplane races and airshows.

Temperatures are expected to be as high as 97 degrees Fahrenheit Saturday and 90 degrees Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Susan Long and Kevin Belcher of Seattle weren’t planning to stay too long Friday, but they knew a thing or two about heat — the couple just moved from Guam last month.

“The humidity just knocked you off your feet,” Belcher said. “This is so dry.”

For Long, it’s all about timing.

“We walk every day in the early morning because it’s just way too hot (later),” she said.

Belcher agreed.

“I wouldn’t be out in the sun,” he said. “I’m just roasting right now.”

Many other families could be seen wading in the waters on the edge of the park, not going out too far but soaking in as much as they could before the boat races started.

“We just like to be down by the water,” said Tracy Weichman of Kennewick. “The water’s super helpful.”

Weichman’s son and his girlfriend had a large foam cup, which came from a snow cone.

“See, after you have your snow cone it’s dual-purpose,” Weichman said.

Leida Villa of Connell, who runs the Snow Shack with her aunt, Beatrice Miranda, already saw more than 200 come in looking for refreshment on Friday alone.

Customers came back once, twice, sometimes more.

“If it’s really hot, (they come back) at least five times,” Villa said.

The most popular selection was Tiger’s Blood, a vanilla cream flavor, Villa said. Customers who were really serious about their snow cones would get an “avalanche” in a 32-ounce cup.

Even with refreshments available, it’s still easy for the heat to creep up on people.

There were minor instances of heat exhaustion near the pit areas Friday afternoon, though no serious cases of heat stroke or heat exhaustion came through, hospitals reported.

There were reports of people who had heat exhaustion near the pit area, though no serious cases of heat stroke occurred, hospitals reported.

Kayte Salter and Anthony Vining, paramedics at the Trios Health tent, were there to provide water and first aid for anyone who needed it.

Attendees should dress very light, wear sunscreen and drink lots of water to avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke, Salter and Vining said.

It’s very important for people to keep themselves in check and continue to stay hydrated.

“They just forget because they get real busy,” Salter said. “You can seriously lose a bottle’s worth of water in 15 minutes.”

Other options, such as soda, sports drinks and other beverages, won’t do the trick and could even prevent proper hydration, Vining said.

“They’re not going to replenish your hydration like you need,” he said.

As for the swimmers, they should proceed with caution through the weekend.

“People who get in the water will forget that there’s stuff that can cut you,” Salter said.

Crews from the Kennewick Fire Department were also stationed in Columbia Park to help boat racing crews stay hydrated behind the scenes.

Heat exhaustion is a serious condition that should not be ignored, said Matt Gau, a Kennewick firefighter and paramedic.

If someone feels dizzy or exhausted, it could be a sign of heat exhaustion. If untreated, heat exhaustion could lead to heat stroke, which may alter consciousness or cause the person affected to pass out.

“That’s a medical emergency,” Gau said. “With heat stroke, they’re going to have very red, hot, dry skin.”

Patrons should drink plenty of fluids, and especially water, Gau said. They should also take breaks and avoid physical activity if they succumb to heat exhaustion.

More information on heat exhaustion and heat stroke can be found at cdc.gov/extremeheat/warning.html.

This story was originally published July 29, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Sunshine and snow cones: Tri-Citians beat heat at Water Follies."