Five Ways to Stay Cool and Safe in the Heat

Fire Marshal James DiPace gives the following advice for staying cool, healthy and safe during the heat wave.

1. Stay hydrated throughout the day, especially before excercising, golfing, torch running or being outside for an extended period of time. Check to see if your pets have enough water and keep them hydrated too.
2. Make sure your home has at least a fan, if not air conditioning. If that is not available to you, find a local building that does. When you're outside, stay in the shade. Keep your pets out of the heat.
3. Wear light-colored clothing.
4. Check on your neighbors, seniors and pets, "just like you would in a bitter cold snowstorm."
5. If a cooling center is needed, the town would open one at Town Hall or the Avon Senior Center. The schools and Avon Volunteer Fire Department Company One are available for larger scale shelters, if it comes to that. DiPace said that cooling center openings are annouced on the town website. Call the Avon Police Department at (860) 409-4200 or the Emergency Management Services at 409-4319 to request a cooling center.