Beat The Heat: Boston Attempts To Stay Cool During The Heatwave
BOSTON (CBS) -- The extreme heat was impossible to ignore Saturday as Massachusetts was in the midst of a heatwave.
Read More: Officials Urge The Public To Take It Easy During Weekend Heatwave
"I have never felt such heat ever in my life. I am literally melting," said one woman.
The solution for many was to hit the beach.
"Today [we're] just kind of hanging out at the beach, chilling out, just stay cool in the water. But once you get out of the water the heat just hits you," one man said.
A woman explained, "We woke up because we were hot. The house is air-conditioned and stuff but as soon as you get outside, it's just -- you have to get used to being moist. You're not going to be dry and cool at all for the next couple days I think."
Of course, Aaron Blake, of Frosty Boston, made a lot of friends.
"It's a great day. Especially when there's turnout like this. People want to come out. They want to eat some ice cream. They've got a smile on their face," Blake said.
Agencies such as the National Weather Service and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reminded residents of ways to keep cool:
- Avoid unnecessary hard work or activities outside or in buildings without air conditioning
- Drink water often
- Wear light, loose-fitting clothing
- Never leave anyone, especially children and pets, alone in cars
- Avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, and salty food that would make dehydration worse
- Be sure to check on friends, family, and neighbors.
"We've had heatwaves before but this one just seemed a little out of the ordinary so we're going to take every safety precaution possible," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said at the Festival Betances Saturday. He believed people were taking the heat concerns and need to stay cool seriously based on the festival's attendance. "In the years past, there would be many, many more people here, hundreds of more people here," he said.
But organizers of the festival and parade did not let the heat hold back their celebrations.
On Thursday, Walsh declared a heat emergency for the entire weekend. This means cooling centers and pools will be open free of charge. A list of open facilities and their hours can be found here.
Walsh's "Mayor on Main" trolley tour was among the events canceled due to heat concerns. "A lot of people come out to events. I didn't want them out there waiting," he explained.
For information about how to keep cool and the signs of heat-related illnesses, visit mass.gov.
