With the high temperatures expected to last through the weekend in the Bay Area's warmest counties -- it helps to know what heat exhaustion looks like. And how to protect yourself and your pets when the thermostat inches toward (or past) 90 degrees.

Bay Area Cooling Centers

It's not that tough for most people to find an air-conditioned haven for a few hours. Or to get a reprieve at cooler, Pacific locations like Ocean Beach or Point Reyes.

But for seniors and anyone else who might have a tough time getting to a cool spot during a heat wave, some counties around the Bay have cooling centers -- primarily senior centers, where during the week, visitors are welcome to enjoy a bit of A/C chill.

These are the centers I've been able to confirm. Note that only some are open on weekends, so be sure to phone ahead if you or a relative needs their services.

• San Mateo County Cooling Centers
• Contra Costa County Cooling Centers

KRON4 also lists these cooling centers in Santa Clara County.

Information on Heat Stroke & Heat Exhaustion

• Elizabeth Quinn (About Sports Medicine) has some advice on handling heat emergencies.
• The About First Aid site offers some tips for handling heat stroke.
• Also check out this information on how to prepare for walks in the hot weather.

Heat and Your Pets

• Veterinarian Janet Tobiassen Crosby (About Veterinary Medicine) shows you how to recognize heat stroke in pets and how to keep your pet cool.
• Franny Syufy, an amazing all-around resource for cats, has some advice on preventing and treating heat stroke in cats.
• My Dog is Cool is a website devoted to educating people on the hazards of leaving dogs in hot cars.
• If you have exotic pets, veterinarian Lianne McLeod (About Exotic Pets) has information on assessing heat stroke and heat emergency in exotic pets.

If you have a garden with birds and wildlife visiting, be sure to keep your bird baths fresh on hot days, when the need for water is especially high.

^{Photo © Ingrid Taylar}