Hot Temperatures Not Stopping Volunteers Working On McKinley Park Playground

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - With days of triple-digit temperatures arriving, volunteers rebuilding the playground at McKinley Park in east Sacramento are finding ways to help keep cool.

Hundreds of volunteers are grinding, hammering, digging and sweating it out under the baking California sun in hopes of having the playground rebuilt by the sizzling summer weekend.

"We are going to remind people to take breaks, get in the shade and drink water probably every hour on the hour," said park organizer Kathy Schultz.

Temperatures could reach 104 by Friday and are expected to climb above that on Saturday when heat exhaustion and dehydration are the biggest concerns.

"We have over 5,000 water bottles donated, three hydration stations; Pepsi donated Gatorade; showers to hose off and cool down," said Schultz. "The city is bringing in misters. We have tents, and the kids offered to squirt everyone with water guns to cool them off."

Firefighters will also be on hand to make sure crews stay healthy.

"Signs of dehydration would be sweating, fast heartbeat, fast heart rate," said Sacramento Fire Department Capt. Keith Wade.

Common-sense reminders such as wearing light colors, loading up on the sunscreen and eating and drinking often should help ride out the near heat wave. The park rebuild has seen about 300 to 400 daily volunteers throughout the week, and organizers hope the hot temperatures won't scare off more from joining.