With Temperatures Near 100 Thursday, Here's Ways to Stay Cool Around Town

According to the National Weather Service, Thursday and Friday's forecast can be described in one word: hot.

Temperatures will reach a high of 98 degrees Thursday, the service reports, while it will be 94 degrees on Friday.

In addition, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has issued an , urging residents to obstain from fueling up, mowing the lawn or using their grills.

Not to mention, this heat can be dangerous. According to the Oakland County Health Department, extreme heat and high humidity requires the body to work harder to maintain a normal temperature because evaporation of perspiration is slowed.

According to Angela Blazevski, spokesperson for Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, the two biggest health risks associated with heat are dehydration and heat stroke.

Symptoms of dehydration include thirst, less-frequent urination, dizziness, confusion and light-headedness. Meanwhile, heat stroke is also marked by sluggishness or fatigue, hot and dry skin, rapid heart beat and hallucinations.

To beat the heat and protect your health, Blazevski said Beaumont reccommends taking the following steps on the hottest days:

• Drink plenty of fluids if you're doing outdoor activities. Avoid tea, coffee, soda and alcohol.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes in light colors.
• Schedule any exercise or yard work during the cooler times of the day.
• Protect yourself by wearing a hat, sunglasses and using an umbrella.
• While outside, take frequent drink breaks and mist yourself with a spray bottle.
• Try to spend as much time indoors as possible.

Is your air conditioning not working at home? If you need to find some place to hide from the heat in Birmingham, try these five cool spots:

• : A popular air-conditioned haven in the center of town, the library doesn't require you to purchase anything and has plenty of comfy chairs and couches. Today, bring the kids hear from Birmingham's first African American firefighter, David Greenwood, during the library's "Dreams Can Come True" series at 2 p.m.
• and : Another popular place to be when the weather gets steamy is the movies. Playing at the Palladium right now is Brave and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter while the Birmingham 8 has Men in Black 3 and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.
• Visit the pool: Don't have a swimming pool of your own? Birmingham has several pools, though many require membership. The has its own indoor competition pool, as do the and . The also has its own swimming pool.
• We all scream for ice cream: What's better on a hot day than ice cream? Though you'll have to eat it fast, Birmingham has plenty of ice cream hot — er, cool spots. The and on Woodward Avenue are popular no matter how hot it gets. Meanwhile, you can grab a specialty creation at downtown or a cone at .
• Take steps to stay healthy: Nothing is cooler than avoiding heat stroke and the emergency room. If you find yourself getting hot, run cool water over your pulse points, such as your wrist and temples; graze all day instead of indulging in big meals; keep your head cool — the temperature of your head regulates your entire body.