Hot enough for you? - It's been a common enough question to ask in the past few days around the county.

While there has not been extreme heat, the heat index has hovered near the century mark over the past few days.

The forecast for the next week calls for high temperatures to hover between 93 and 98 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

But these temperatures are not extreme.

The average June temperature is around 88 degrees and July's average is around 91 degrees.

The state's highest record temperature came from Camden on June 28, 1954. On that date, the recorded temperature was 111 degrees.

With the heat rolling into the county, the Gail Reyes Senior Center opened a cooling station.

At the cooling station people can find relief in the air conditioned rooms, while enjoying ice water and board games to pass the time, said Sheila Brooks, the senior services manager for Generations Unlimited, the agency that runs the senior center.

The station opened June 18 and will stay open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In the past, the station has had seven to eight visitors a week, Brooks said.

"We are trying to target people who need a place to get our of the heat," Brooks said.

The heat or at least the humidity may take a break next week, as drier air is set to move in, said Roger Riley, the Barnwell County Emergency Management director.

Riley said through the July 4 weekend, the heat and humidity look to hang around, though.

Riley said there are some common precautions people can take to minimize the risk of heat related health issues.

• Don't overexert oneself;

• Don't do outdoor activities in the middle or hottest part of the day.

• Stay well hydrated.

Riley said those without air conditioning would benefit from a fan.

"Fans will at least move air," he said.

As for residents having problems with the heat, Riley said, "So far, I am not aware of any problems."

Those problems can appear quickly for some.

Residents at the highest risk of heat-related illness are the very young and the very old.

The warning signs of heat-related illness include headaches, muscle cramps, decreased sweating, stomach cramps and nausea, said Nelsa Nobles, a registered nurse at Barnwell Family Medicine.

Nobles said the best preventative tip is to stay well hydrated.

Hope Bowers, public information manager for the Williston Rescue Squad said they have seen a "tremendous increase" in heat related emergency calls with the rise in temperatures.

Bowers echoed Noble and Riley's suggestions to stay well hydrated.

Bowers said people who drink sports drinks should also drink plenty of water.

She also said people who are going to be outside need to wear cotton clothing not synthetic fabrics.

The cotton can breathe wear the synthetic fabrics like polyester make one sweat more, she said.

The heat not only affects humans but pets as well.

Tammay Bolen, the manager at the Barnwell County Animal Shelter said there are several things people can do to make their pets more comfortable during the heat.

• Keep pets out of vehicles, even the back of a pick-up is not good for pets.

"The floor bed gets too hot and will burn their paws," Bolen said.

She makes the same statement about sidewalks and roadways.

"Walk your pets on the grass. The sidewalks and roads get too hot," she said.

• make sure your pet has plenty of cool water to drink.

Bolen said owners may have to put ice in the water bowls or replenish their pets water several times a day.