Cooling centers open to help beat the heat, but some pools remain closed amid coronavirus

BOSTON — Boston’s heat emergency remains in effect, sending many people flocking to pools, splash pads and anywhere else to try to cool down.

Massachusetts is expecting its third straight day of temperatures in the 90′s, but some of Boston’s swimming spots are closed.

Twenty cooling centers in Boston will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday with temperatures expected to feel between 96 and 100 degrees. But it’s a little more complicated in the middle of a pandemic.

If you want to go to one of the cooling centers, it is recommended that you call before as capacity is limited to 40% because of coronavirus public health regulations.

If anyone has experienced any symptoms of COVID-19 recently or have been exposed to the virus, they will not be allowed in a cooling center.

>> List of Boston cooling center locations, phone numbers

All visitors will be screened before entering, will have to wear a face mask, bring their own water, and maintain at least six feet of space from others.

Besides local beaches, kids can stay cool splashing in tot sprays at the city’s playgrounds. DCR pools are open, but with restrictions, including reduced capacity.

>> Find DCR swimming pools, splash decks

But city-operated pools remain closed due to COVID-19 safety measures.

With the lack of places to swim in the middle of a heat wave, some residents are frustrated trying to find ways to keep their kids cool.

As people were finding ways to cool off, phone lines were heating up. After a weekend with temps in the nineties, Boston EMS crews were busy.

“People were calling in for people who they were concerned that maybe they, the homeless affected by the heat and a lot of check on the well-being calls,” said Chief Jim Hooley, Boston EMS.

Boston EMS Numbers:

Saturday and Sunday

• 667 Incidents
• 320 Saturday
• 347 Sunday
• 417 Transports
• 195 Saturday
• 222 Sunday
• 119 Incidents indicating don full PPE for COVID-19
• 58 Saturday
• 61 Sunday
• 11 heat-related incidents

“When the weather gets more hot and humid, you tend to see a bit more folks who are outside whether they are younger or older,” said Chief Hooley.

Boston's EMS chief says one of the challenges during the pandemic, combined with the heat, is putting on personal protective equipment.

"Crews, once they got somewhere, they still Indicated that they took full isolation precautions because some of these symptoms that you can see can be consistent also with Covid which is still out there," explained Chief Hooley.

The chief said there are many concerns when temperatures reach this high for both the people they treat and his staff.

"We have to worry about 1) keeping our own personnel hydrated. Make sure that we're taking care of them. That they get some kind of breaks in air-conditioning or some kind of just to hydrate. and make sure that the public is getting the message as well too," said Chief Hooley.

"We do get a little bit more respiratory calls when it gets hot and humid but a lot of that can be because they have underlying respiratory trouble."

The chief says it’s still important to wear your mask, even during this excessive heat, but it’s ok to take a break from it, just remember to social distance from others. Most importantly, stay hydrated.

Resources:

• Extreme heat safety tips
• Find DCR swimming pools, splash decks | Mobile version

Cox Media Group