Cambridge Heat Safety - Places to Cool Off; Resources Available to Help

The City of Cambridge wants to make sure everyone—residents, families, pet owners, and businesses—stays safe, cool, and prepared during extreme heat.

Here's your all-in-one guide for locating places to cool off this heat wave and this summer:

Cool Off at a Cambridge Pool
Whether you’re looking for a place to swim laps or bring the family, we’ve got options!

War Memorial Recreation Center (1640 Cambridge St.) offers three indoor pools year-round, including lap lanes, a diving tank, and a circular pool.

Gold Star Pool (123 Berkshire St.) will be open for outdoor swim on Tuesday, June 24 (starting at 2 p.m.) through Labor Day—free to Cambridge residents!

Learn more and view pool schedules:
https://www.cambridgema.gov/Services/recpoolsandswimming

The Commonwealth’s Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) also has pools available in Cambridge and the region.

• Veterans Memorial Pool (719 Memorial Dr) - Opened June 21
• McCrehan Memorial Pool (359 Rindge Ave) - Opened June 21

To locate all available pools and hours, visit Locations | Mass.gov.

Find Waterplay Features Near You
Splash pads and spray features are free and open to the public during the summer months!

Use this interactive map to explore waterplay locations in your neighborhood and beyond:

https://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/parks/waterplaymap

Cool Off Inside City Buildings
Residents are encouraged to use a Cambridge Public Library branch as a cooling location. Branch libraries will welcome people seeking to cool off during regular hours and will have water bubblers available. Branch hours and locations can be found on the City’s website. Note: the Valente Branch is closed through Wednesday, June 25 due to a maintenance issue.

The Cambridge Senior Center is also available for our older adults to cool off. Find their schedule and activities at https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/humanserviceprograms/COA/seniorcenter806massave.

Cool Off Inside Other Community Buildings
MIT Cool Spots: MIT continues to pilot a program called Cool Spots: air conditioned locations where residents can go to hang out, stay cool, and partake in the activities each location has to offer. More information is available at https://prepared.mit.edu/mit-cool-spots/.

Locations such as CambridgeSide and local movie theaters are also all good places to cool off.

Check On Your Neighbors
Be a good neighbor. Be sure to check on 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.

If you or someone is showing signs of heat stroke call 911 immediately. Signs of heat stroke include:

• A body temperature over 103 degrees; hot, red, dry, or moist skin; a rapid and strong pulse; and possible unconsciousness.
• While waiting for help to arrive, move the person into a cool area, help cool them down with wet towels or a cool bath, and DO NOT give them fluids.

Check on People Who are Unhoused
If you are concerned about a person who is unhoused, please call First Step at (617) 592-6895 or call 911 if the person is experiencing an emergency.

The following resources will be actively distributing water and supporting people on the street:

• First Step will be distributing extra water and transporting residents to shelters. They will be working from 2 p.m. – midnight daily and the service van will be stocked with sunscreen, hats, cooling towels in addition to the extra water.
• The Cambridge Health Alliance street medicine team will be available via their outreach van Monday through Thursday with a community health worker and nurse practitioner.
• The Community Safety Department CARE Team will be doing increased outreach and providing water starting 7 a.m. -7 p.m. They can be contacted at 617-349-7200.

• Fire and Police Departments: Cambridge Police Officers will distribute cold bottles of water to residents in need while they are out on patrol. Cambridge Fire personnel are placing extra water at all firehouses in the event residents come in looking for some. Cambridge Fire Department will also have water on all apparatus and will keep an eye out for people in need as they are on the road across the City. 
  
• Pro EMS will have cold water available in all ambulances.

The following shelters will be extending hours or offering critical services during the heat wave:

• Emergency Services Shelter (240 Albany Street): Extended daytime hours will be in place through Wednesday (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.). People with assigned beds including overflow will be allowed to stay inside the shelter during this heat wave.  Shower services are also available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.  They can be contacted at 617-661-0600.
• First Church Shelter will be operating shower services at the University Lutheran Church in Harvard Square (66 Winthrop Street) Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Salvation Army is extending daytime hours from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. for the next few days and will be distributing water. They also offer shower services. They can be contacted at 617-547-3400.

For all heat safety resources and information, visit: www.cambridgema.gov/heat.