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Officials work to prevent more heat deaths in Reno County

July 22, 2011|By Christina Karaoli Taylor & Melody Pettit | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(HUTCHINSON, Kan.) — Reno County resident Lodema Robinson is thankful.

"The fan is going to sit right in front of me, it will help for sure," she says.  She just received a fan from the Hutchinson Salvation Army.

Robinson came to get a fan when she heard that three Reno County men died because of the heat in the last week.  Her air-conditioner doesn't work and her house has reached 96 degrees.

"I get light-headed and confused and my chest feels heavy," she said.

While she cools off, the Hutchinson Salvation Army knows more people need the help.   It's already given away more than 300 fans this summer - more than any other year. 

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The Red Cross also gave away about 90 fans.  Both organizations say they do this every summer but the need this year is especially great and groups are running out of fans.

They're asking for donations of fans or money to help them buy some.

More than two dozen heat deaths have been reported nationwide, including several in Kansas. The current heat wave is on track to be the worst since the mid-1990's.
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