Mayor Menino Issues Heat Advisory For Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- With the city gripped in a heat wave, Mayor Tom Menino issued a heat advisory for the city on Friday.
Menino and the Boston Public Health Commission are urging residents to stay hydrated and in shaded or air conditioned areas whenever possible. Residents can cool off at several Boston Parks Department water spray sites throughout the city and in air conditioned community centers.
"With several days in a row of this extreme heat, we want everyone, particularly children and the elderly, to take the necessary precautions," Menino said in a prepared statement issue Friday afternoon. "It's important to stay cool and hydrated, and to keep an eye on our vulnerable neighbors."
Children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses and injuries, but everyone should remember to limit their activities during very hot weather, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid beverages that contain caffeine or alcohol, according to Menino's heat advisory.
Also Friday, the city Elderly Commission issued a robocall to 30,000 Boston seniors advising them of the heat, precautions they should be taking, and providing the number to the Mayor's 24-hour hotline for assistance: 617-635-4500.
On Wednesday, the Boston Housing Authority activated cooling centers at all its facilities for the elderly and disabled. BHA workers are planning to check on elders and conduct door knocking throughout the weekend to provide heat safety resources to residents.
All Boston Centers for Youth & Families sites were open Friday and serving at cooling centers beginning at 1 p.m.
The Boston Parks Department operates several water spray sites throughout the city from mid-June to mid-September from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless otherwise posted.
For questions about heat-related city services, residents should call the Mayor's 24-Hour Hotline at 617-635-4500.
