Tips for Extreme Heat Days

With the hotter weather expected over the next few days, please keep in mind that extreme heat can be dangerous and even life-threatening, particularly for those at higher risk, if proper precautions are not taken.

Link here to more information and tips from Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

During Extreme Heat (from MEMA)

• Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle. Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20°F within 10 minutes.
• Slow down and avoid strenuous activity.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Light colors reflect heat and sunlight, and help maintain normal body temperature.
• Drink plenty of water — even if you are not thirsty. Avoid alcoholic beverages and liquids high in sugar or caffeine. If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink, ask how much you should drink during hot weather.
• Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals.
• Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. Do not leave pets outside for extended periods of time.
• If you must be outdoors, limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so your body temperature will have a chance to recover. Use sunscreen with a high SPF and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• If you do not have air conditioning, stay on your lowest floor, out of the sun. Use fans to stay cool and avoid using your stove and oven. Consider spending time in air-conditioned public spaces, such as schools, libraries, theaters, and other community facilities.
• Check with your local authorities or Call 2-1-1 to find locations of cooling centers or shelters near you.
• If there are power outages during warm weather, you may need to take additional precautions or go to a cooling center or emergency shelter to stay cool.
• Know the symptoms of and watch out for heat-related illnesses. Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies.
• Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions, those who may need additional assistance, and those who may not have air conditioning.

Keep Your Pets Healthy and Safe this Summer

As the weather starts to heat up, summer pet safety becomes a “hot” animal welfare issue. There is a heat advisory for much of eastern MA Thursday August 11th, where we are most confident the Heat Index will be reaching 100 to perhaps 105 degrees Thursday afternoon.
The Cambridge Animal Commission want to remind you that leaving a pet inside a parked car is the most common cause of potentially deadly heat stroke. Imagine how high the temperature can reach on a hundred degree day 

Remember: Even when it’s only 80 degrees outside, the inside of a car can heat up to more than 120 degrees in just 10 minutes – even with the windows cracked.

• Leaving your pet in a hot car for even a short period of time can have dangerous consequences. 
• Even with all the windows cracked, the temperature of your car’s interior can quickly rise to deadly levels. 
• Pets don’t sweat the way we do; they cannot cool their bodies efficiently in hot temperatures. 

Make seasonal adjustments to your daily routine to keep your pets healthy and safe in the summer heat! Shade offers little protection on a hot day and moves with the sun. Leave your dog home when you know you are going to have to leave the dog in the car for any amount of time. A five minute visit to a store can lead to a ten minute or more visit in the store.