EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) -
Because of the excessive heat, the United Caring Shelter in Evansville has initiated its Red Flag program which means those with no place else to stay can go to the shelter to sleep.
Kimron Reising is the Executive Director of the United Caring Shelter in Evansville. He says this summer has been extremely hard for the homeless to find relief because of the dangerously hot temperatures.
That's why the shelter opens its doors to people who have no place else to go.
Reising says those who sleep outside are putting their lives in danger mainly because of dehydration.
Earlier this month, an autopsy showed a homeless man died from heat exhaustion. He was found near the railroad tracks on Maxwell Avenue in Evansville.
"If you're camping out, living in an abandoned building, sleeping in your car, living in a tent, or something like that, you don't have immediate access to clean water. That's a real important consideration is always make sure you've got plenty of water to stay hydrated," said Reising.
UCS offers water to guests along with food, shower facilities and an air conditioned place to sleep or just cool off.
"Folks that walk everywhere they go. If you walk a mile or two during the heat of the day in the full sun, it's easy to get sun burned. That brings a lot of additional health problems and issues along with it," Reising said.
UCS also provides sunscreen along with some advice.
"When the temps get up above 100 degrees, you're better off wearing long pants and long sleeves because your body temperature is lower than the outside air temperature so you want to keep that body temperature in and protect it from the excessive heat," Reising.
If you'd like to help the United Caring Shelter, they can use twin sized sheets and products like soap and shampoo.
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