POLK COUNTY, Iowa – The high heat indices expected over the weekend have caused the activation of Polk County’s Extreme Temperature Plan.

It went into effect on Friday morning and is expected to be in place through at least Sunday night. It could be extended if needed.

Under the plan, shelters, community centers, malls, and libraries serve as cooling centers. You can check the locations and hours of the cooling centers here. Des Moines Area Regional Transit is also offering free bus rides to cooling centers.

ER doctors at UnityPoint say when the temperature rises above 95 degrees, there’s an influx of heat-related problems. Classic signs of heat-related dehydration include cramps, nausea, and headaches. Doctors say if you know you’re going to be outdoors, it’s crucial to hydrate as much as possible the day before, and to keep ahead of your water intake the following days.

It’s also important to remember that excessive heat can affect people differently.

Dr. Brooke Johnson, UnityPoint Emergency Physician, says, “It’s different for everybody, you know, different ages tolerate the heat differently. Obviously, if you’re a 20-year-old, you might tolerate it a little bit better than someone who is 90 years old. So, there’s a big range. It’s hard to answer specifically how long it’s going to take to, to get injured, but especially all the ranges, it is really important to keep hydrated.”

Dr. Johnson said once you begin feeling the telltale symptoms of heat sickness, get to a cool place and immediately push liquids, especially those with electrolytes.