Community members must be prepared to react should extreme heat occur this summer, especially with a heat wave forecast for later next week. According to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), extreme heat is a prolonged period of very hot weather, including high humidity. In Massachusetts, a “heat wave” is usually defined as three or more consecutive days above 90 °F.
The following tips are courtesy of the MEMA:
Know the Differences Between Watches and Warnings
Community members are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the different types of heat watches and warnings to prepare for each properly. Watches and warnings include:
- An Excessive Heat Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for an excessive heat warning in the next 24-72 hours.
- A Heat Advisory is issued when daytime heat indices of 100ºF–104ºF occur for two or more hours. The heat index is a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is factored in with air temperature.
- An Excessive Heat Warning is issued when daytime heat indices greater than or equal to 105°F occur for two or more hours.
Community members should be mindful of temperatures as extreme heat and high humidity can be life-threatening if the proper precautions are not taken.
Be Ready for Extreme Heat
- Community members should sign up to receive alerts, warnings, and public safety information before, during, and after emergencies. Sign up now for the town's emergency alert system, CodeRED, to receive alerts concerning time-sensitive and/or emergency information.
- Have an emergency kit on standby.
- Prepare your home for possible emergencies.
- Install air conditioners snugly, insulating if necessary.
- Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.
Don’t Stress During Extreme Heat
- Drink plenty of water — even if you are not thirsty. Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals.
- Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. If you don’t have air conditioning, stay on your lowest floor, out of the sun, and avoid using your stove and oven.
- Electric fans will not prevent heat-related illness when temperatures are in the high 90s. Cooling off with a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is much better.
- If extreme heat occurs and your house is too hot, visit air-conditioned public spaces like the Richards Memorial Library.
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing to maintain your body temperature.
- Know the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and watch out for them. Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies. Signs of heat-related illnesses include:
- Muscular pains and spasms in the legs or abdomen caused by heavy sweating may indicate heat cramps.
- Cool, moist, pale, flushed skin, nausea, dizziness, headache, weakness, and/or exhaustion may be signs of heat exhaustion. This typically occurs when people overexert themselves in a warm, humid place, often affecting those doing strenuous work in hot weather.
- Extremely high body temperature, hot and red skin (dry or moist), loss of consciousness, changes in level of responsiveness, rapid and weak pulse, rapid and shallow breathing, vomiting, confusion, and/or seizures may be signs of heat stroke. A person suffering from heat stroke needs immediate assistance. Call 9-1-1 and move the person to a cooler place.
- Be a good neighbor and check on those who may need additional assistance.
If extreme heat occurs, North Attleborough will open cooling centers to provide relief to community members. Should cooling centers open, the North Attleborough Emergency Advisory Board will notify residents via CodeRed, the town’s website, and social media.
If you have any questions, you are encouraged to contact the North Attleborough Fire Department at 508-699-0140.
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