Beat the Heat: Pima County Opens Cooling Centers for Summer Relief

Pima County has launched nearly thirty cooling centers from Tucson to Ajo in response to the approaching summer heat. With temperatures nearing triple digits, these centers provide a vital refuge for those seeking to escape the oppressive conditions.

Equipped by the Pima County Health Department, the cooling centers offer items such as cooling towels, cold water bottles, electrolyte drink packets, and educational materials regarding heat-related illnesses. Guidance on handling medical emergencies is also provided.

Betsy Camara, heat relief and response manager at the Pima County Health Department, emphasized the importance of these centers. “Cooling centers are an essential piece to preventing heat-related illness and deaths during the hot summer months throughout Southern Arizona,” she stated. Collaboration with community partners enhances the effort to safeguard public health.

In addition to cooling centers, Pima County has established two respite centers within existing shelters. “They offer more in terms of what they can give people. Some have cots or recliners, providing a comfortable space for individuals to rest,” explained Camara.

Entering its second year, the initiative has repurposed libraries and community centers throughout Tucson as temporary shelters from the heat. In more remote areas like Ajo, where the sole library is closed, a portable COOLtainer is deployed. “It’s a literal shipping container,” noted Camara, highlighting the versatility of the units. These self-sustaining structures can be placed in rural locations lacking nearby cooling centers.

Currently, one of these shipping containers operates in Ajo, although Camara anticipates expanding this initiative with three additional units by the end of the summer. The locations of cooling centers are determined by visitation data and utilization rates, allowing the county to adapt to changing needs. “If we see an uptick in a certain area, we’ll establish a cooling center to provide a crucial space for people seeking refuge,” said Camara.

An interactive map detailing locations and services of cooling centers in Pima County is available at pima.gov/heat.