Pools, ice cream and moving indoors — how Lake County residents cope with the heat

If you were warm and uncomfortable Thursday, you weren’t alone.

Northern Illinois temperatures exceeded even those of Mexico City.

But despite the mercury climbing to the upper 90s, Lake County residents found ways to cope.

Softball campers play onThe Lake Zurich High School softball camp moved its middle school session indoors at 11:30 a.m. #147;It#146;s really hot, but it#146;s better than outside,#148; 11-year-old Miranda Bonus said of the weak air-conditioning. It was the last day of the three-week camp at the high school. Head varsity coach Michaela Towne said she has brought the girls indoors three times when temperatures reached the mid-90s.Workers keep on truckin#146;Crews working on a trail underpass near the Lake County Discovery Museum at Fairfield Road and Route 176 were stuck in the heat for most of the day. Jerry Wilson, carpenter foreman for Lorig Construction, said the workers started an hour earlier than usual at 6 a.m., so they could get more done while it was cooler outside. The heat didn#146;t stop the workers, but it did delay pouring concrete #151; hot weather can cause problems with durability and appearance.#147;Cold, rain, it don#146;t matter; we work,#148; Wilson said. #147;We just keep on truckin#146;.#148; Day campers find pool, shadeKids at Camp Duncan YMCA in Ingleside were brought indoors to get away from the hottest hours of the day, noon to 2:15 p.m. #147;Plus, we have scaled back activities for the kids and cut all high-activity movement outside,#148; said Kim Kiser, the camp#146;s executive director.Campers would have access to the lake and cooling zones, and other water-related activities.#147;We also have mandatory hydration times for the children to make sure they get plenty of water out there,#148; she said.Mundelein fest heats upIf it was #147;hot#148; at Mundelein Community Days#146; kickoff, it was even hotter at the Luke#146;s Sandwich stand grill.#147;I keep cool by drinking lots of water, staying in the shade, and putting ice in my hat. All help me cool off,#148; Paddy Teglia said of grilling hot dogs.Worker hydration wasn#146;t the only concern. Food has to meet regulations for cold and hot temperatures to be certified to serve.#147;Days like today when it is extremely hot, it is very important for us to check temperatures and make sure they still meet regulations, so no one gets sick or served unhealthy food,#148; said Greg Olsen of the Lake County Health Department.Frozen treats in LibertyvilleThe parking lot was empty shortly after Dairy Dream in Libertyville opened at 11 a.m., but it was full of customers within minutes.It was so hot Joyce Fielding thought all her family should have some ice cream #151; even her dogs.#147;The dogs and I are availing ourselves of ice cream at our favorite place,#148; Fielding said, as she gave her Corgi mix Snickers a dish of ice cream.Grayslake children enjoy waterThere was splishing and splashing #151; but it wasn#146;t in a bath. Children came to the Grayslake Park District spray park to play in the water.Peppermint Stick Children#146;s Center of Round Lake Beach took a field trip to the park. #147;It#146;s actually not too bad once you get in here. It#146;s nice and cool,#148; said teacher Ashley Cass. Ÿ Daily Herald staff writers Lee Filas, Steve Lundy, Gilbert Boucher and Joel Bissell contributed to this report.sales23171745Charnice Hoegnifioh, 10, of Round Lake Beach gets water squirted in her face as she cools off at the Grayslake Park District spray park. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.comsales 29371977Snickers, a Corgi mix, eats ice cream at Dairy Dream in Libertyville with owner Joyce Fielding of Libertyville as a way to keep cool in the heat. Gilbert R. Boucher II / gboucher@dailyherald.com sales34852233Construction worker Bruce Burgett rehydrates after a long day in the heat while working on road construction on Route 176 near Wauconda. “We started at 6 a.m. to beat the heat,” said Burgett. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.comsalessales40003000Kids at Camp Duncan YMCA in Ingleside beat the heat by swimming in the climate-controlled, Olympic-sized swimming pool on the campgrounds. Lee Filas/lfilas@dailyherald.comsalessales28651873Softball instructor Christina Sandstedt goes through a drill with 9-year-old Nina Malak of Hawthorn Woods as the Lake Zurich High School softball camp went indoors to beat the heat. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.comsales