Lack of hydration, hot cars among dangers posed by heat wave

DEDHAM, Mass. — It's a tale of two summers in the middle of a heat wave. Some relish in the chance to cool off while others suffer from the dangers of overheating.

With a huge pool, it's a lot easier to enjoy. Even with this, and splash pads, camp managers say there are still challenges in the heat.

If they’re outside, counselors say they’re in the water, no hoops or soccer in this heat wave. Though hydration remains a tough sell.

"You have to remind them sunscreen and you have to remind them to keep hydrated," Dedham Health and Athletic Complex employee Stephen Lempert said.

As Laura Lawless of Dedham lathers up her 4-year-old and 2-year-old, she’s got the same issue.

"The biggest challenge is keeping them hydrated. I try to keep the pools going we have all our water bottles over here, um but that's number one," Lawless said.

As children cool off in Dedham, an animal control officer in Belmont is sweating out the afternoon sun in a parking lot.

"Already feeling it, only been in this parking lot for a couple of minutes," Belmont Animal Control Officer Suzanne Trasavage said.

We tagged along with Trasavage as she went car-to-car searching for pets or children illegally left in cars.

"So this car right now is about 114 degrees," she said, checking one with her heat gun.

Two weeks ago, she says a dog was left in a hot car outside a school in Belmont. It was found dead. That was a wakeup call for many in town.

"In a matter of minutes, your dog can die in the car," Trasavage said.

She says other towns are also dealing with the same issue.

Cox Media Group