Hot tips for staying cool in the heat

HUBER HEIGHTS, Ohio (WDTN) - So you've soared through the slide, rolled down the river, and soaked up the sun at the Kroger Aquatic Center, but there's one thing missing.

"Definitely hydration," says mom Debbie Ferreri. "We have to keep them hydrated so we brought lots of water and snacks and juices."

The water at the Kroger Aquatic Center in Huber Heights is good for just about anything, except drinking, so getting kids to take a few gulps between dips is about more than staying afloat.

"Even though you're in the water feeling cool, keep drinking," says Scott Falkowski, Assistant City Manager with Huber Heights. "There's definite danger with the sun. Go get in the shade. Take breaks. Don't stay out all day."

But waving goodbye to the heat for just a few hours is all many moms are looking for.

"Just to get the kids cooled off and keep everyone cooled down and everything," says mom Maria Benkovics. "It's great relief."

Well, that and maybe a making a splash of their own.

"The mommy's even got to go on the big slide," Ferreri says. "That was the best part."

The families are among the 10,000 people a week who have been visiting the Kroger Aquatic Center since it opened just a little less than a month ago.

"It's been great," Falkowski says. "There's been more than expected going in."

Just don't forget the lotions, like sunscreen, and the liquids, like water.

"You make sure you douse them with water and snacks and send them on their way," Ferreri says.