Yuma cooling kits provide relief during triple-digit heat

May 8, 2026 — YUMA (AZFamily) — As Yuma temperatures climb into the triple digits, many people say they’re doing whatever they can to avoid the worst of the heat — whether that means staying indoors, heading to the river or escaping to the California coast.

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But for Yuma residents staying in town — especially those without air conditioning — local cooling centers are now open.

Facilities like the Yuma County Foothills Library Branch have been preparing for scorching days like these and are ready to welcome anyone who needs a break from the heat.

“People can access our facility — restrooms, a water fountain, our sitting areas,” said Karen Salas, branch manager at the Yuma County Foothills Library Branch. “We also offer free cooling kits.”

Salas said the kits are funded through a grant from the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring. They include items such as a water bottle, sunscreen, an instant cold pack and other supplies designed to help people stay safe in extreme heat.

“We definitely started offering those earlier this year, I think,” Salas said. “Especially when we had that heat wave back in February or March ... around that week, we really saw a spike and an increase in those kits.”