BOSTON
- Friday, July 17, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today declared a Heat
Emergency in the City of Boston in anticipation of the hot and humid
weather that is forecasted through Tuesday of next week. Select Boston
Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) community centers will be open to
the public as cooling centers on Sunday, July 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
Monday, July 20, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. when the real feel temperature
is expected to range between 96 and 100 degrees.
"Please
take the necessary steps to protect yourself from COVID-19 and from the
heat and humidity that we expect over the weekend," said Mayor Walsh.
"Continue to practice social distancing, avoid crowds, wash your hands
often, and wear a face covering. If the face covering causes you to
overheat, find a shaded area where you can maintain 6 feet of distance from
others, and then remove the face covering so that you can breathe easily
and cool down."
Twenty
BCYF community centers will be open for residents to use the air conditioned
rooms to cool off. Tot
sprays are open at playgrounds in the City, with restrictions. Boston
Public Libraries and City-operated pools remain closed to the public at
this time due to COVID-19 safety measures. A full list of centers including
hours of operation is available here.
Due
to COVID-19 public health regulations, residents are advised to call before
visiting to confirm hours and occupancy limits. All cooling center visitors
will be screened before entry and must wear a face covering (covering both
the nose and mouth), maintain 6 feet of distance from others, and wash
their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Visitors
must bring their own water bottles and water, and must limit belonging to
one small bag. Occupancy will be monitored to ensure it doesn't exceed 40
percent of the building's maximum permitted occupancy to maintain proper
distancing and the spaces will be regularly cleaned and disinfected hourly.
Information
on heat safety tips can be found online at boston.gov/heat and by following
@CityofBoston on Twitter. Residents can sign up for Alert Boston, the City's
emergency notification system, to receive emergency alerts by phone, email
or text. Sign
up online here. Residents are also encouraged to call 311 with any
questions about available city services.
The
Mayor issued the following heat safety tips for all members of the public:
- Children and pets should never
be left alone in vehicles, even for short periods of time.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids
regardless of activity level. Avoid alcoholic beverages and liquids
high in sugar or caffeine.
- Adults and children should use sunscreen
containing an SPF-30 or higher and wear protective, loose-fitting
clothing, including long sleeve shirts and hats.
- Limit outdoor activity to
morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas and be extra cautious
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., when the sun's UV radiation is strongest.
- Know the signs of heat
exhaustion.
Heavy sweating, cool and clammy skin, dizziness, nausea, and muscle
aches could all be signs of heat exhaustion. If symptoms persist, call
911 immediately. Do
not delay care. Heat is the leading cause of
weather-related deaths in the US and can exacerbate underlying
illnesses.
- Keep cool with showers, shade,
and air conditioning or fans. Urban
wilds and tot
sprays at playgrounds are open in the City. When visiting,
residents should wear face coverings (unless in the spray), maintain 6
feet of distance, and wash hands before and after visiting.If it is
cooler outside than at home, wear a face covering and find a shady
spot outside. If
the face covering results in overheating or trouble breathing, find a
shaded area where 6 feet of distance from others can safely be
maintained and remove the face covering. If no AC is
available:
- Take frequent cool showers
- Help find a non-sick family
member or neighbor with AC to visit. Wear a face covering and stay 6
feet apart.
- If you have a child in your
home, use child
window guards in addition to screens on any open
window on the second story or above. Falls are the leading cause of
injury for children under the age of six.
- Secure all window air
conditioner units
according to the manufacturer's specifications.
- Please call or virtually check
on neighbors, especially older adults, and people with disabilities.
Helping the homeless:
- If you see homeless individuals
out in the heat who appear immobile or disoriented, please call 911.
Please ask them if they need assistance.
- The Boston Public Health
Commission (BPHC) operates emergency shelters at 112 Southampton St.
and 794 Massachusetts Ave. These facilities are air conditioned and
open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- The City of Boston works
closely with a network of shelter providers to ensure there is
adequate shelter, food, water, and a cool respite from the heat.
- Street outreach teams providing
recovery services, including the Engagement Center behind 112
Southampton St., remain operating as normal during summertime
weather.
- All sites (Shelters, the
Engagement Center, comfort stations) are following COVID-19 guidelines
by promoting handwashing, hand sanitizer, and face coverings. Guests
are provided sunscreen and water. Nursing teams are onsite to
support.
Playground safety:
- Children should always wear
shoes on playgrounds because surfaces can become extremely hot and
cause burns, even splash pads and spray decks.
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
children should wear a face covering (except while in the water), stay
6 feet away from others, and wash/sanitize hands before and after
play.
Beach safety:
- Don't wear face coverings in
the water because they can be difficult to breathe through when
they're wet. This means it is particularly important to maintain
social distancing in the water. If the face covering results in
overheating or trouble breathing, find a shaded area where 6 feet of
distance from others can safely be maintained and remove the face
covering.
Outdoor fires and grilling:
- No outdoor fires are allowed in
Boston, including fire pits, chimineas, and bonfires.
- Charcoal grills must be on the
ground and away from buildings. Keep in mind the wind and never leave
unattended. When done, dispose of the ash in a metal container once
completely out.
- Propane tank grills are only
allowed on first floor porches with steps to the ground. Do not place
propane tank grills near air conditioners or up against a building.
Make sure all connections are tight and never carry propane tanks into
a home.
- Grills should always be used in
a well-ventilated area.
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