For Immediate Release

Monday, July 2, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

East Bridgewater Fire Chief Announces Cooling Centers will be Opened in Town

EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Timothy Harhen would like to announce that two locations in East Bridgewater will serve as cooling centers for residents during the heat wave this week.

The Selectmen’s Office conference room at Town Hall, 175 Central St., and the Community Center, 355 Plymouth St., will be open throughout the day this week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Neither site will be open on the Fourth of July, Wednesday.

This week, Town Hall will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Friday. The Community Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday this week.

Please note, the Community Center will be staffed during the times it is open, however, the Selectmen’s Office conference room will not be.

If additional days and hours are needed an announcement will be made.

Temperatures are expected to reach into the low 90s today and into Thursday in East Bridgewater, according to the National Weather Service. Humidity levels are also expected to be high throughout the week.

“This hot weather is not expected to subside over the next few days, so we want our residents to have a place to go where they can cool down,” said Chief Harhen, who is also the director of the town’s emergency management agency. “I know there will be a lot of Fourth of July activities going on in the region this week. Please stay hydrated and try to limit the amount of time you are outside in the heat.”

The American Red Cross recommends the following in order to stay safe in the heat:

• Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
• Avoid extreme temperature changes.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors that absorb the sun’s rays.
• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
• Postpone outdoor games and activities and take frequent breaks if working outdoors.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat. Don’t forget to monitor your pets to ensure they are not suffering from the heat.
• If you do not have air conditioning, you should choose places to go to for relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day (libraries, theaters, malls, etc.).

Those exposed to high heat for a prolonged amount of time can fall victim to heat exhaustion or life-threatening heat stroke.

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